1.
Here, your end will come very soon, so see to it how you stand. Today a person exists, and tomorrow he is no more. But when we no longer see him, we will soon no longer think of him either. How shortsighted and hard is the human heart, which considers only the present and does not carefully look to the future! You should conduct yourself in all your works and thoughts as if you were to die today. If you had a good conscience, you would not fear death much. It would be better to guard yourself against sin than to flee from death. If you are not ready today, how will you be tomorrow? Tomorrow is uncertain, and how do you know if you will experience it?
2.
What use is it to live long if we improve ourselves so little? Alas, in a long life one does not always improve; often one only increases one’s guilt even more. Oh, that we had at least spent a single day well in this world! Many count the years since their conversion, but often they have improved little. If it is terrible to die, it may be even more dangerous to live longer. Blessed is he who always keeps the hour of his death before his eyes and prepares daily for dying. If you have ever seen a person die, then consider that you too will walk this path.
3.
In the morning, think that you may not live to see the evening. But if evening has come, do not promise yourself the next day. Therefore, always be ready and live so that death does not find you unprepared. Many die suddenly and unexpectedly. For the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. When this last hour finally arrives, you will begin to think very differently about your whole past life and greatly regret that you have been so negligent and lazy.
4.
How blessed and wise is the one who strives now in life to be as he wishes to be found on his deathbed! For whoever completely despises the world and has a fervent desire to grow in virtue, whoever loves discipline and practices works of penance, whoever obeys quickly, denies himself, and endures all adversity out of love for Jesus Christ, will have great confidence in dying blessedly. Now, while you are healthy, you can do much good; but what you will be able to do in your illness, I do not know. Few are improved by sickness, just as those who often go on pilgrimages are rarely made holy.
5.
Do not rely on friends and relatives, and do not postpone the care for your salvation to the uncertain future, because people will forget you much faster than you imagine. It is better to provide for the future in good time now and to send good works ahead, than to hope for the help of others. If you are not concerned for yourself now, who will care for you in the future? Now is a very precious time. “Now are the days of salvation, now is the acceptable time.” But alas! How much it is to be regretted that you do not use it more profitably, since you could be gathering merits for eternal life! There will come a time when you will wish for a single day or perhaps only a single hour for the improvement of your life; but whether you will have it, I do not know.
6.
Well then, my beloved brother! See from what great danger you can free yourself and from what great terror you can escape if you now always live in holy fear and keep death ever before your eyes. Strive to live now so that in the hour of death you may rejoice more than you fear. Learn now to die to the world, so that you may then begin to live with Christ. Learn now to despise all things, so that you may then reach Christ unhindered. Discipline your body now by penance, so that you may then have sure hope.
7.
Ah, foolish person, why do you believe you will live long, when you are not sure of a single day before death? How many have been deceived, having to leave this world unexpectedly! How often have you heard it said: this one died by the sword; that one drowned; another fell and broke his neck; this one died while eating and that one ended his life while playing! One perished by fire, another by the sword, one by plague, another by murderers; and so, the end of all is death; the life of humans passes swiftly like a shadow.
8.
Who will think of you after death? Who will pray for you? Now, my beloved brother, now do as much as you can, because you do not know when you will die, nor what will happen to you after death. Now gather for yourself everlasting riches, while you still have time. Think of nothing else but your salvation; care only for the kingdom of God. Make friends for yourself now, so that you may honor the saints of God and follow their examples, so that at the end of your life they may receive you into eternal dwellings.
9.
Always consider yourself on earth as a stranger and guest, whom the affairs of the world do not concern. Keep your heart free and turned toward God, for you have no lasting home here. Send your prayer and your sighs there daily with frequent tears, so that your soul may happily reach the Lord after death.
Amen.