rts
of the earth he came_[1011] to leave his earth here. He was hastening,
it is true, on another errand; but we know that by reason of his special
love for us he desired that most of all.[1012] He suffered many
hindrances in the journey itself, and he was refused permission to cross
the sea till the time of his consummation was drawing near,[1013] and
the goal which could not be passed. And when, with many labours, he came
to us _we received him as an angel of God_[1014] out of reverence for
his holiness; but he, out of his very deeply rooted _meekness and
lowliness_,[1015] far beyond our merits, received us with devoted love.
Then he spent a few days with us in his usual health: for he was waiting
for his companions, who had been scattered in England, when the baseless
distrust of the king was hindering the man of God. And when they had all
assembled to him, he was preparing to set out to the Roman Court, on his
way to which he had come hither;[1016] when suddenly he was overtaken by
sickness, and he immediately perceived that he was being summoned rather
to the heavenly palace, _God having provided some better thing for us_,
lest going out from _us he should be made perfect_ elsewhere.[1017]

2. There appeared to the physicians no sign in him, I say not of death,
but even of serious illness; but he, gladdened in spirit, said that in
every way it was befitting that this year Malachy should depart from
this life.[1018] We laboured to prevent it, both by earnest prayers to
God, and by whatever other means we could; but his merits prevailed,
that _his heart's desire should be given him and_ that _the request of
his lips_ should _not be withholden_.[1019] For so all things happened
to him in accordance with his wishes; that by the inspiration of the
divine goodness he had chosen this place above all others, and that he
had long desired that he should have as the day of his burial this day
on which the general memory of all the faithful is celebrated.[1020]
Moreover, these joys of ours were worthily increased by the circumstance
that we had selected that same day, by God's will, for bringing hither
from the former cemetery for their second burial the bones of our
brothers.[1021] And when we were bringing them, and singing psalms in
the accustomed manner, the same holy man said that he was very greatly
delighted with that chanting. And not long after, he himself also
followed, having sunk into a most sweet and blessed sleep.