And yet he remained sufficiently in the world to discharge with
absolute efficiency the complex government of his diocese almost
up to the last moment of his existence. Though his bodily
strength gradually ebbed, the vigour of his mind was undismayed.
At last, supported by cushions, he continued, by means of a
dictated correspondence, to exert his accustomed rule. Only
occasionally would he lay aside his work to plunge into the yet
more necessary duties of devotion. Never again would he preach;
never again would he put into practice those three salutary rules
of his in choosing a subject for a sermon: '(1) asking God to
guide the choice; (2) applying the matter to myself; (3) making
the sign of the cross on my head and heart and lips in honour of
the Sacred Mouth;' but he could still pray; he could turn
especially to the Holy Ghost. 'A very simple but devout person,'
he wrote in one of his latest memoranda, 'asked me why in my
first volume of sermons I said so little about the Holy Ghost. I
was not aware of it; but I found it to be true. I at once
resolved that I would make a reparation every day of my life to
the Holy Ghost. This I have never failed to do to this day. To
this I owe the light and faith which brought me into the
truefold. I bought all the books I could about the Holy Ghost. I
worked out the truths about His personality, His presence, and
His office.
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