The Prince de Condé was known as a great man in his day. His victories and his bravery on the battle-field had earned the applause of the world to a high degree.

But the fateful day came for him, as it does for us all, when his life was drawing to a close. He was told by his physicians that they had done all they could for him. The hour of his death was at hand.

The great man was silent for a few minutes. He had led such a glorious life as a victor and leader. But all that was coming to an end forever.

Turning to those who were around his bed, he exclaimed: "Ah, my friends, things appear so very different to me now than they did when I was in good health! How vain is all earthly glory, and how empty is all human praise!"

The words of the dying have a powerful force for the rest of us. They, more so than those in good health, have a sense of the world to come - the world they are so close to entering forever. So let us heed their words, and live wisely, journeying through this life so as to arrive at our Heavenly Home when we pass to the life to come.