As the Advent season begins and the gaze of our hearts turn towards the coming of the Messiah, Holy Mother Church centers this month's devotion on the Divine Infant Jesus. 

"All confess that they must die, and die only once and that nothing is of greater importance than to die well; because on death depends whether we shall be forever in bliss or forever in despair. All know that our eternal happiness or our eternal unhappiness depends on leading a good or a bad life. How then does it happy that the greater part of Christians live as if there were never to die, or as if to die well or ill were of little moment! ...
'Remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.' (Eccl. 7:40)"
- St. Alphonsus Liguori: Preparation for Death

Prayer to St. Joseph in Honor of the Trinity
Everlasting Father, for the sake of the love which Thou didst bear to St. Joseph, whom Thou didst chose above all to occupy Thy place on earth, Have mercy on us and on those who are dying. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be ...
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Everlasting Son of God, for the sake of Th y love towards St. Joseph, who didst protect Thee so faithfully on earth, have mercy on us all and on those who are dying. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be ...

Everlasting Divine Spirit, for the sake of Thy love toward St. Joseph, who so carefully protected Mary, Thy most holy and beloved spouse, have mercy on us and those who are dying. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be ...

"​Brother, if you believe that you must die, that there is an eternity, that you can die only once, and that if you then err your error will be forever irreparable, why do you not resolve to begin at this moment to do all in your power to secure a good death? ... Hasten to apply a remedy in time; resolve to give yourself sincerely to God, and begin from this moment a life which, at the hour of death, will be to you a source, not of affliction but of consolation. Give yourself up to prayer, frequent the sacraments, avoid all dangerous occasions, and, if necessary, leave the world, secure to yourself eternal salvation, and be persuaded that to secure eternal life no precaution can be too great." 
​- St. Alphonsus: Preparation for Death

"Holy Church, our Good Mother, after having exalted with fitting praise all Her children who now rejoice in heaven, strives also to help all those who still suffer in purgatory,
and to this end intercedes with all Her power before Christ, Her Lord and Spouse,
in order that as speedily as possible they may join the society of the elect in heaven."
Roman Martyrology

​The glory of God is our supreme end, what all creation groans for in expectation. By grace we begin to share in that glory which shall be fulfilled in the eternal bliss of union with the Holy Trinity. Let us join with Our Mother, Mediatrix of all Graces and St. Louis Marie de Montfort in meditating on our blessed hope in the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.