Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. This volume completes the first series of the Ascetical Works, comprising the volumes that are suitable for persons Of every age and every state of life. We began the series by the Preparation of Death, and we finish it by the Victories of the Martyrs, who are our principal models after Jesus and Mary, the King and the Queen Of martyrs. The other saints had only to follow them; it is thus that they have acquired the same glory. St. John beheld all the saints clothed in white, and with palms in their hands: Clot/zed wit/z w/zite robes, and palms in tkeir bands.1 The palm is the symbol of martyrs; and yet all the saints did not suffer martyrdom; — why, then.