How your Guardian Angel is present at the time of death
Just as the care that our Angel has for us in life tends to bring us a precious {44 [130]} death, just as he sees closer that hour, the more he duplicates his vigilance to succeed.
He tries to prepare the soul for himself in time for that great step. And it is constant observation especially in well-regulated souls, and to the voices of their more docile Angel, who have a certain presentiment, and as a certainty of their already near death; whence it is that they saw then in greater retreat and in greater ardor of Christian and pious works, so as to better conclude their life.
Effect without doubt of the secret reasonings of the s. Angel. It is true that certain more favored souls have known it more clearly from him, but in that short time they remained, they increased their treasures of good works more than used.
You will die on the first day of the year, said the Angel to s. Marcello abbot; You will die on the first day of March, the Angel also said to Prince David of the Royal lineage {45 [131]} of England; From here to a year I will come to lead you with me to glory, so again the Angel to s. Exuberance. But it is also true that, in less obvious ways, he does not fail to ordinarily prevent the soul under his care from internal voices, even if he wants to hear them, although now more silent and now more expressed. And do you believe, petty, to always live? If you die soon? so I heard someone in his heart say he was going to sin, and giving himself to great penance, he amended in time the little that was left of his life. Ah miserable! now you will die, another of similar, and good for him, life was heard to say internally, which corresponded quickly to the warning; as he barely confessed, he finished living. So second were the Angel's warnings, very frequent, certainly not many unhappy deaths!
But in the last anxieties he shows himself more than ever and a powerful protector and a loving consolator. He then opposed the insults of hell, he reduced his assaults {46 [132]}, unnerved his strength; thus he makes his client calm and secure among the same bitterness of death; because he knows more than any other not only the ways in which to regulate mortal ambitions, now with suggesting sweet feelings of loving resignation; now with trust in the fatherly hands of his Lord or in his wounds, and longing to enjoy the heavenly divine beauties; and to obtain more vigorous help, he himself becomes his loving intercessor with his prayers to Jesus the Savior of souls, and to Mary the Great Mother and compassionate protector of the dying. Nor does he leave to invite other Angels and saints, and especially s, to the rescue. Michele, who presides over the agonies, and s. Joseph who then will provide singular assistance; it also excites the fervor of the souls most acceptable to God, the zeal of the priests to whom he saw s at that point. Filippo Neri be the words of the Angel suggested. {47 [133]} Thus in that extreme he becomes like a heavenly balm to our soul in those few hours of life that remain, as he sets off for eternity, Oh the great comfort that my good Angel gives me said a dying man, he gives me the kiss of peace, with him I go, goodbye and another on the expiration: Oh how the Angel fights for his devotees! oh how he consoles! you don't see it here! I die in his arms: and with him he left. And Saint Teresa in expiring the son of a lady, Ah lady, he said, how many Angels come to take the soul of this little Angel of the earth, oh well ventured whoever dies like this!
Holy and most amiable my Custos, faithful and constant friend also of those who insulted and offended you, provided you repent, I recommend to you my last agonies and those troubled moments, which will decide of my eternal health. Blessed is Me, if you make them happy, and the beginning of a better and eternal friendship between you and me. Dear Angelo: in hora exitus mei illuminate me, rege et guberna.
PRACTICE
Every day in the morning and in the evening, heartily recommend to your Guardian Angel the last hours of your life, and protest to entrust your eternal health into his hands: In manibus tuis sortes meae. Today pay a visit to some sick person, or give something in limosina.
EXAMPLE
Among the innumerable examples that could be adduced in confirmation of that solicitous care, which our guardian Angels have of us at the end of our life, what the venerable Peter of Cluny tells us is very luminous. It writes, that a young man approaching for serious illness at the end of his days, confessed, but for redness he left some guilt to confess. The following {49 [135]} night his extremely sorrowful Guardian Angel of the unhappy state in which his soul found himself, with a terrible vision made him known, that if he did not confess that sin, which he had kept silent in confession, heaven was no longer for him, and would be forever lost. The sick man returned to himself, confused and composed, he quickly called the confessor, and with an outpouring of tears he declared all that he had silenced before in shame, and received the SS with devotion. Viaticum and extreme unction, making incessant thanks to his tutelary Angel, died placidly amidst open signs of eternal salvation. (Lib 2 de mir. Pres. Sever.)