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more to make up for the past, and never to think I have served
God enough.
I did this Meditation in Church, on my knees, for about
an hour. I think I had few distractions. My pride had the worse
of it when I realized there were so many sins in myself.

However, I ended the Meditation with an act of trust in Jesus
Christ, who bears my sins on his own shoulders, and with his
Blood adorns my soul.

THIRD MEDITATION. On Death. And so, I have to die, that
is sure. As to when, God alone knows. I have therefore to be
always well-prepared for it. Sin is what makes death so bitter;
for a just man death is not a death but the beginning of real
eternal life. And so, if I could die a saintly death, how happy
would my death be! ...
I then considered that death is the only thing that matters more
than anything else, because on it depends either my eternal
happiness or my eternal damnation, which means that it is
very important that I spend well the moment of death. I

reflected on the total stripping of everything that death does; at
that moment fame and glory, high positions, wealth and
pastimes, etc. are of no use; what I will value are my good
deeds, which will accompany me even in eternal life.
As I asked myself what would cause me the greatest anguish
if I had to die just now, I understood that my pride, self-love
and lack of right intention in my actions would be for me the
most serious cause of distress.

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