There was once a little girl whose father lay at home very ill. She was only eight years old, but she had gone to Catechism class from the time she began to walk. She had always paid great attention to the lessons that were given there.

When she saw that her father was so ill, she was filled with grief. She loved him very much, and the thought that he might soon die made her cry very bitterly. But she was sad for another reason also. She knew that her father had been leading a careless life, and had not been to the Sacraments for years. She knew that if he did not repent before he died, she could never see him in Heaven.

Now, the doctor had told this man’s friends that he was in great danger of death. But none of them had the courage to tell him. When his little daughter saw this, she was more grieved than ever. Death is the most important moment of our lives. It determines where we will be for all Eternity. It is not something to ignore or run away from. God gives us our lifetime to prepare for our death. The closer we are to leaving this earth, the more we must prepare our souls.

As this good little girl sat weeping at the thought of losing her dear father, she made up her mind to go to him herself and tell him that he could die very soon. So she went to his room, climbed up on his bed, and put her arms around his neck. The dying man, seeing his child there sobbing and crying, asked her what was wrong.

“O papa,” she said, “you are very ill; I heard the doctor say that you could not get better. O papa, what shall I do without you?”

“My dear little girl, do not cry like that. I shall soon be well again; I shall not die.”

“But, papa, if you do not get better, and if you really die, oh, it will be a terrible thing, for I shall never see you in Heaven!”

“What makes you think that, child?”

“I learned it at Catechism class; for the Catechism says that if a person has been neglecting his duties, and dies without repenting, he cannot get to Heaven. And you know, dear papa, that you have not been to the Sacraments for a very long time. And that is what makes me so sad. For, O papa, I do love you so much, and I want to see you one day in Heaven!”

Tears came into the eyes of the dying man. “Run, my own dear child,” he cried out, “Run as fast as you can and bring the priest. Tell him that your father is dying, and desires to receive the last Sacraments.”

The little girl ran immediately, and in a short time the priest stood at his bedside. The dying man made his Confession, and received the last Sacraments with the greatest devotion. He did not die for some time afterwards. But he always told those who came to see him about the wonderful mercy God had shown him:

“I have to thank God for the blessing He gave me in sending me that dear little child. If it had not been for her, I would very likely have died in my sins, and have been lost forever. As it is, I now die resigned to God’s Holy Will, and full of hope in His mercy.”

When the end came, his little daughter wept much for him. But this time there was much joy in the midst of her sorrow. For she knew that her dear father was with God in Heaven, and that she would one day meet him there.