‘Purgatory’ by J. Sadlier; 1886; Chapter I – ‘Verses from the Imitation’; pages 37-40
[Saint Catharine of Genoa – XV-XVI Century AD; Genoa, Republic of Genoa/ Genoa, Republic of Genoa; Aged 62-63; mystic, known for her work among the sick and the poor]
Verses from Imitation ~ Thomas A Kempis
Trust not in thy friends and neighbors, and put not oft thy soul's welfare till the future ; for men will forget thee sooner than thou thinkest.
It is better to provide now in time and send some good before thee than to trust to the assistance of others after death.
If thou art not solicitous for thyself now, who will be solicitous for thee hereafter.
Did'st thou also well ponder in thy heart the future pains of hell or Purgatory, methinks thou would'st bear willingly labor and sorrow and fear no kind of austerity.
Who will remember thee when thou art dead ? and who will pray for thee ? Now thy labor is profitable, thy tears are acceptable, thy groans are heard, thy sorrow is satisfying and purifieth the soul.
The patient man hath a great and wholesome purgatory.
Better is it to …More
"For she /Saint Monica/, when the day of her dissolution was at hand, had no thought for the sumptuous covering of her body, or the embalming of it, nor had she any desire of a line monument, nor was Solicitous about her sepulchre in her own country : none of these things did she recommend to us ; but only desired that we should make a remembrance of her at Thy altar, at which she had constantly attended without one day's intermission, from whence she knew was dispensed that Holy Victim by which was cancelled that handwriting that was against us (Coloss. 11.), by which that enemy was triumphed over who reckoneth up our sins and secketh what he may lay to our charge, but findeth nothing in Him through whom we conquer."
"Trust not in thy friends and neighbors, and put not oft thy soul's welfare till the future ; for men will forget thee sooner than thou thinkest.
It is better to provide now in time and send some good before thee than to trust to the assistance of others after death.
If thou art not solicitous for thyself now, who will be solicitous for thee hereafter."