Resignation

Act of Resignation to the Divine Will
 
O Lord my God, I now at this moment, readily and willingly accept at Thy hand whatever kind of death it may please Thee to send me, with all its pains, penalties and sorrows.

Something of a revelation:

The first time I read this prayer was in the mid-1980’s when I first began attending the Tridentine Mass.  The prayer impressed me very much.  I was young and always had a fear of death.  

Just this night, I paused before the Crucifix.  This prayer came to me and with it the realization that Our Lord sends many types of death.  Yes, we all die, of course, but He desires that we die to ourselves so that He may live in us.  Obvious, I know, but …. all this time, this prayer has been about accepting physical death, in whatever way He desires.  It is now so much more, which is the death and dying which I have resisted for so long.  I have not truly died to self, to sin.  Having now some experience with near-death, I can say that dying to oneself is so much more difficult.  So many pains, penalties, and sorrows!