The one thing needful; or, The attainment of our last end

same in substance to that which Thou didst consummate on the cross, in obedience to Thy heavenly Father, grant that I too may give my life as a victim sacrificed to Thy glory, and immolated to Thy holy will. I wish for nothing but what may be according to Thy good will and pleasure, and I desire to live and die in the manner most conformable to Thy sacred appointment.

AT THE END OF MASS.

I thank Thee, O Lord, for having permitted Thy most unworthy creature to take part in a work which is the masterpiece of Thy omnipotence. Pardon, O Lord, pardon all my negligence; grant that, strengthened by virtue of the merits of Thy beloved Son, and our Lord Jesus Christ, I may find admittance into the most august temple of Thy heavenly kingdom, and there be wholly inflamed with the fire of Thy love, by which the soul lives eternally in God, and God in the soul. Amen.

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CONTENTS.

PART I.

Containing Various Considerations on our

Last End.

CHAPTER I.-On the Nature of our last end.

On our Creation

On our Preservation

PAGE.

On some weighty consequences which follow from the

preceding considerations

On the end of our creation

On a remarkable consequence which follows from the

preceding consideration

CHAPTER II.-On the end of the various

creatures which exist upon earth.

The various creatures which exist upon earth were

created to the end that they might assist man in

attaining to his last end

On a most important consequence which arises from

the preceding consideration

On another most important consequence which follows

from the preceding consideration

CHAPTER III.-On the excellence of the end

of our creation.

The excellence of our last end is shown by the effect

which Divine love produces in our souls

The excellence of our last end is shown by the sub-

limity of the state of glory.

PAGE.

The excellence of our last end ought to induce us to set the greatest value upon it, and to use our best efforts in order to secure its attainment

CHAPTER IV.-On the happiness which attends the attainment of our last end.

On the impossibility of attaining to any real happiness by means of earthly enjoyments

On the happiness which attends the attainment of our end in this life

On the happiness which attends the attainment of our end in the life to come

CHAPTER V.-On the obligation of attending to the attainment of our last end

The contemplation of the divine as well as of the hu-
man nature, shows the obligation which we have of
attaining to our last end.

The obedience which other creatures render to God,
according to their nature, shows the obligation
which we have of attaining to our end
The strict obligation of attending to the attainment
of our last end, is exhibited to us by our Saviour's
injunction, which is contained in the Gospel

CHAPTER VI.-On the importance of attaining
to our last end.

The importance of attaining to our last end, is shown
by the great value of our immortal soul
The importance of attaining to our last end, is shown
by the serious consequences which follow, from
gaining or losing it.

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109

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The importance of attaining to our last end is evinced
by its being our own individual business
The importance of attaining to our last end, is evinced
by its being our only real business