All Must Be Left
Philip II, King of Spain, being near his end, sent for his son and, throwing away the royal robe, showed to him his breast gnawed by worms, and then said to him: 'Prince, behold how we die, and how all the grandeurs of this world end!'
It was well said by Theodoret, that 'death fears neither riches, nor guards, nor the purple' ; and that 'rottenness and corruption flow from the bodies of princes as well as vassals!'
So that everyone that dies, even though he be a prince, carries nothing with him to the grave: all his glory remains on the bed on which he expires: 'For when he shall die, he shall take nothing with him' (Psalms).
-St. Alphonsus.
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From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
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