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The Last Words Of Father David Lewis “Here is a numerous assembly. The Great Saviour of the world, save every soul of you all. I believe you are met here, not only to see a fellow countryman die, but also with the expectation to hear a fellow countryman speak…Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief; but as a Christian, and, therefore, I am not ashamed. My religion is the Roman Catholic religion. In it I have lived above these forty years; in it I now die, and so fixedly I die, that if all the good things in this world were offered me to renounce it, all should not move me one hair’s breadth from my Roman Catholic Faith. A Roman Catholic I am, a Roman Catholic Priest I am, a Roman Catholic priest of the Religious Order called the Society of Jesus I am, and I bless God who first called me, and I bless the hour in which I was first called unto faith and Function. Please now to observe. I was condemned for reading Mass, hearing Confessions, administering the Sacraments, anointing the sick, christening, marrying, Preaching. As for reading the Mass, it was the old, and still is, the accustomed and laudable liturgy of the Holy Church, and all other acts, which are acts of religion tending to the worship of God, and for this dying, I die for religion…I die for conscience and religion, and dying upon such good scores, as far as human frailty permits, I die with alacrity, interior and exterior.” He paused, and after forgiving all and seeking forgiveness of all he addressed the Catholics who might be in the Crowd. “Friends fear God, honour your King, be firm in your Faith, avoid mortal sin be frequenting the Sacraments of Holy Church, patiently bear your persecutions and afflictions, forgive your enemies. Your sufferings are great. I say be firm in your Faith to the end, yea even to death, then shall you reap unto yourselves celestial treasures in the heavenly Jerusalem, where no thief robbeth, no moth eateth, no rust consumeth.” Then he prayed aloud: “Sovereign Lord God, Eternal Father of Heaven, Creator of All, Conserver of All, sole Author of Grace and Glory, with prostrate heart I adore Thee, and Thee only I adore as God. The giving of Divine honour to any creature of highest degree, I adore and detest as damnable idolatry. Incarnate Son of God, true God, Thou has purchased a Church here upon earth with thy Sacred Blood, and planted it with Thy Sacred labours, a Church to continue to the consummation of the world; whatever that Church of thine hath by revelation from Thee, whatever that church of Thine hath taught me, and commanded me to believe, I believe it to an iota. God, Holy Ghost, who maketh Thy sun to shine upon good and bad, Thy rain to fall on just and unjust, I praise thy Holy Name, and thank thee for the innumerable benefits Thou hast been pleased to bestow and confer upon me, Thy unworthy servant, and years I have now lived on earth. Holy Trinity, three Persons and One God, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry that ever I offended Thee, my good God; even to an idle word; yet through Thy mercy, my God and the merits of my Redeemer, I strongly hope for an eternal salvation. “Sweet Jesus, receive my soul.” |