| Sirach 11:30
| Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his children.
| Children. If they take wicked ways, it is a stain on their father's memory; and though the latter were blameless, it must greatly disturb their repose. (Calmet) --- Children may here denote the works of man, which can only then be pronounced perfect, when he is incapable of falling from the state of virtue. (Haydock) ------Dicique beatus Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet. (Ovid, Metam. iii.) --- Solon inculcated this truth to Croesus, and when the latter was about to be burnt to death by Cyrus, he called thrice upon Solon's name; the reason of which being told the conqueror, he took pity on the fallen king, and treated him with great respect. (Laert. 1.; Plut.[Plutarch?] in Solon) --- These sages only regarded the goods of this life. But the Christian's real happiness commences after death. Mors....gratio missionis est. (St. Ambrose, Mort. viii.)
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