Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
CV: Hora Novissima explained
The speaker prays for a Christian death, asking to die in a Christian land with the comfort of the Church's presence, the Cross, and absolution, while acknowledging that God can aid anywhere and that He who taught unity will not reproach th
What happens
The speaker prays for a Christian death, asking to die in a Christian land with the comfort of the Church's presence, the Cross, and absolution, while acknowledging that God can aid anywhere and that He who taught unity will not reproach the fear of dying alone.
Themes in this chapter
The Church and Tradition
The speaker seeks the Church's presence, prayers, and sacraments (absolution, the Cross) as essential for a Christian death.
Faith and Doubt
The prayer expresses faith in God's aid anywhere, yet acknowledges the human dread of dying alone, balancing trust with vulnerability.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker who prays for a Christian death and expresses reliance on God's will.
- Lord
The divine addressee to whom the prayer is directed, asked to grant a Christian death and absolution.
- Mother
The Church, referred to as 'Mother,' whose smile and sacred shrine provide comfort and prayers.
- Christ
He who taught His own to live as one and will not upbraid the dread of dying alone.
Key passages
“Whene'er goes forth Thy dread command, And my last hour is nigh, Lord, grant me in a Christian land, As I was born, to die.”
Whenever You command my death and my final moment approaches, Lord, allow me to die in a Christian country, just as I was born into one.
The opening plea for a death within the Christian faith and community.
“But let my failing limbs beneath My Mother's smile recline; And prayers sustain my labouring breath From out her sacred shrine.”
Let my weakening body rest under the Church's comforting presence, and let prayers from her holy sanctuary support my struggling breath.
The speaker asks for the Church's maternal care and intercessory prayers at the moment of death.
“And let the Cross beside my bed In its dread Presence rest: And let the absolving words be said, To ease a laden breast.”
Let the Cross remain near my bed in its awe-inspiring presence, and let the words of absolution be spoken to relieve my burdened heart.
A request for the sacramental presence of the Cross and the sacrament of confession before death.
“Thou, Lord, where'er we lie, canst aid; But He, who taught His own To live as one, will not upbraid The dread to die alone.”
You, Lord, can help us wherever we are; but Christ, who taught His followers to live in unity, will not condemn the fear of dying alone.
Acknowledges God's omnipresence while affirming that Christ understands the human fear of solitary death.