Saint,
whom he had chosen for patron of his Society, and he had a
great wish to celebrate once more on that Festival. He could
hardly have hoped to do so, for he had now for some time
been quite unable to leave his bed; but in the evening of
the 18th, about ten o'clock, his pain was unexpectedly
relieved, and he was conscious of some return of strength.
The night was quiet, and on the morning of the Festival he
was able to crawl to the Altar, and to celebrate the Holy
Mysteries in the presence of all the Brothers, who could
scarcely believe their eyes. All that day he continued
better, was able to converse with the Brothers, listened for
the last time to their confidential talk, and gave them some
last counsels. But the pain came on again, and he was
obliged to go to bed.

'The Cure of the parish, hearing that he was worse, hastened
to visit him, and thinking from the bright cheerfulness of
his face that the dying man was not aware of his own
condition, said to him, "Do you know that you are dying, and
must soon appear before the presence of God?" "I know it,"
was the answer, "and I wait His commands; my lot is in His
hands, His will be done." In truth, his soul dwelt
continually in unbroken communion with God, and he only
waited with longing for the moment when the last ties that
bound him to earth should be severed. Several days passed
thus. Feeling that he was getting worse, he asked for the
Viaticum, and it was arranged that he should receive it on
the following day, which was Wednesday in Holy Week. He
spent the whole night in preparation, and his little cell
was decorated as well as the poverty of the house allowed.
When the time came, he insisted on being taken out of bed,
and dressed, and placed in a chair, vested in a surplice and
stole. At the sound of the bell announcing the approach of
the Priest, he threw himself on his knees, and received his
last Communion with the same wonderful devotion which had
often formerly struck those who assisted at his Mass, only
with even more of the fire of love in his face. It was the
last gleam of a dying light, which was being extinguished on
earth, to shine with undiminished brightness "as the stars
for ever and ever."

'The next day he received Extreme Unction. His mind