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¶ Hec est doctrina beati Anselmi, Cantuariensis archiepiscopi. Sic debet frater vel soror proximus vel proxima morti interrogari: “Frater vel soror, letaris quod in fide christiana morieris?” Respondeat: “Etiam.” “Gaudes quod morieris in habitu clericali vel statu viduali, seu virginali, coniugali, vel monachico?” “Etiam.” | “Fateris te non tam bene vixisse quam debuisses?” “Etiam.” “Penitet te?” “Etiam.” “Habes voluntatem emendandi si spacium haberes vivendi?” “Etiam.” “Credis quod pro te mortuus est Dominus Iesu Christus, Filius Dei vivi?” “Etiam.” “Agis ei gratias?” “Etiam.” “Credis te ne posse nisi per mortem eius saluari?” “Etiam.” “Age ergo, dum superest in te anima; in hac sola morte totam fiduciam tuam constitue, et in nulla alia re fiduciam habeas. Huic morti te totum vel totam inmitte,      hac morte te totum vel totam contege, hac morte te totum vel totam involue. “Et si Dominus Deus te voluerit iudicare, dic, “‘Domine, mortem Domini nostri Iesu Christi obicio inter me et iudicium tuum. Aliter tecum non contendo.’ “Si dixerit quod merueris dampnationem, dic, “‘Domine, mortem Domini nostri Iesu Christi obicio inter me et mala merita mea, ipsiusque meritum offero pro merito quod ego debuissem habere non habeo.’ Et dic iterum, “‘Domine, mortem Domini nostri Iesu Christi pono inter me et te et iram tuam.’” Deinde dicat ter, “In manus tuas, Domine, comendo spiritum meum. Redemisti me, Domine Deus veritatis. Amen.” Cui hec premissa ante mortem dicantur, mortem non gustabit in eternum.

¶ This is the teaching of Saint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury. So ought a brother or sister who is near death be asked: “Brother or sister, are you happy that you are dying in the Christian faith?” May he or she respond: “Yes indeed.” “You rejoice that you are dying as a cleric or in a state of widowhood, virginity, marriage, or monasticism?” “Yes.” | “You confess that you have not lived as well as you ought to have?” “Yes.” “Do you repent?” “Yes.” “Do you have the desire to do correction if you should still have a span of life?” “Yes.” “Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, died for you?” “Yes.” “Do you give thanks to him?” “Yes.” “Do you believe that you cannot be saved except through his death?” “Yes.” “Come then, while the soul remains in you; in this lonely death assemble all your faith, and may you have faith in no other thing. Throw yourself entirely into this death, cover yourself over entirely with this death, enclose yourself entirely in this death. “And if the Lord God should wish to judge you, say, “‘Lord, I interpose the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between your judgment and me. Otherwise I offer you no resistance.’ “If he should say that you deserve damnation, say, “‘Lord, I interpose the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between my wicked deserts and myself, and I offer his merit in place of the merit that I ought to have but do not.’ And say again, “‘Lord, I interpose the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and you and your anger.’” Then let him say three times, “Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me, Lord God of truth. Amen.” To whom the preceding words are pronounced before death, he will not taste everlasting death.