promise that we shall die well, for God may not give us the grace or
opportunity to repent, and we may die in sin if we have lived in sin.
Besides this, the devil knows how much depends upon the state in which
we die, and so he perhaps will tempt us more at death than at any other
time; for if we yield to him and die in sin, we shall be with him
forever--it is his last chance to secure our souls.

Besides the Hail Mary there is another beautiful prayer on the same
subject, called the Angelus. It is a little history of the Incarnation,
and is said morning, noon, and evening in honor of Our Lord's
Incarnation, death, and resurrection. It is made up of three parts. The
first part tells what the angel did, viz.: "The angel of the Lord
declared unto Mary. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost." After saying
these words, we say one Hail Mary in honor of the angel's message. The
second part tells what Mary answered, viz.: "Behold the handmaid of the
Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word." We say another Hail
Mary in honor of Mary's consent. The third part tells how Our Lord
became Man, viz.: "And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt among us." The
"Word" means here the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity; and "made
flesh" means, became man. Then another Hail Mary is said in honor of Our
Lord's goodness in humbling Himself so much for our sake. After these
three parts we say: "Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God! that we may be
made worthy of the promises of Christ"; and, finally, we say a prayer in
honor of Our Lord's Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection. This
beautiful prayer is said three times a day in all seminaries, convents,
and religious houses. The time for saying it is made known by the
ringing of a bell called the "Angelus bell." In many parishes the church
bell rings out the Angelus. In Catholic countries the people stop
wherever they are and whatever they are doing, and bowing their heads,
say the Angelus when they hear its bell. It is a beautiful practice and