May Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be forever praised and glorified now, at the moment of my death, and into eternity.

Thanks and praise to God for having given me so many blessings, especially the grace of my baptism as an infant, through which I became God's adopted son, Jesus' disciple, the Holy Spirit's abode and a member of the Catholic family.

Thanks and praise to our merciful God for having given to me kind, pious and charitable parents and two good sisters who served my duty to take care of my parents.

Thanks and praise to God for giving me an aunt who was a Catholic nun. Her example and prayers were the seed for my vocation to the priesthood. This seed germinated, grew, flowered and bore fruit under God's protection, and the loving education of many teachers and religious elders: Fr. Long Chi-Hua (Gaspar Lischerong, S.J.) and Mr. Chi Hsiu Fang in my elementary school; Fr. Ye Yu-Ken (Stephen Jaschko, S.J.) in middle school; Fr. Pu Ming-Dao (Francis Burkhardt, S.J.), Rector of the Major Seminary in Ching Hsien; my Novice Master Fr. Chang Chi-So; my Theology professor Fr. Chai Hong-Dao (Anton Drexel, S.J.). Thanks and praise to God for giving me these great teachers and also many kind classmates who led me, accompanied me, gave me good example, and journeyed with me on my road to priesthood. May our merciful God abundantly bless these teachers and classmates of mine!

Thanks and praise to God for leading me into the Society of Jesus and for the charism of St. Ignatius which enabled me to search for God's will and minister "for the greater glory of God".

Thanks and praise to God for granting me my priestly and Episcopal ordinations, and for elevating me to the position of Cardinal in the Church. I am most grateful to God for the opportunity to share in the priesthood of Jesus, to be a successor of the Apostles, to pastorally work for the faithful, to evangelize the non-Christians and to assist with the Holy Father in the Universal Church. Dear Lord, I am not worthy. You have given me so many blessings during my priestly and Episcopal ministries that I could never repay! I can only ask for your forgiveness for the many times that I misused your graces or did not fulfill Your will for me.

Thanks and praise to God for allowing me to be part of the Regional Bishops' Conference in Taiwan which gave me the opportunity to work harmoniously with my brother Bishops as we tried our best to serve the Church in Taiwan. I especially want to thank my brother Bishops who, in spite of my shortcomings, elected me as President of the CRBC. I held this position for 18 years and 8 months, until my retirement. I was only able to carry out this mission because of the full support and tolerance from my brother Bishops, and with the assistance of members of the Secretariat of CRBC. Merciful God, please bless the CRBC and help them to continue to work in unity to edify and serve the people and to spread the Gospel. Lord, please open the door to spread the Gospel in Taiwan and to enflame the enthusiasm of all people to spread the Gospel.

The Church in Mainland China has been under persecution for over half a century. I will forever cherish and remember in my prayers the sufferings of Bishops. Priests, Brothers, Sisters and lay people in China. The greatest pain in my heart is knowing that they have many spiritual and materials needs, yet I am unable to do anything for them. I will, however, always keep them close in my prayers and in my heart. Lord, please strengthen your suffering people. Help them to feel Your companionship in their suffering, unite them to the Universal Church and grant them religious freedom soon.

Everyday, my first prayers in the morning have been:

"Holy Spirit, please shine upon me" as I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me and lead me in all my thoughts, words and actions.
The Anima Christi (Soul of Christ)
The Lord's Prayer (I pray this united with Jesus and the Holy Spirit)
The Hail Mary ( I pray this with thanks and praise for God's precious creation and through the intercession of the Queen of China.)

After that I pray to God through the intercession of St. Joseph, the special patron of China; St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and Rock of the Church; St. Paul, my Patron Saint, my guardian angel and all the guardian angels of the Bishops, priests and faithful in China; all the Chinese Saints, and all the Saints and Angels in heaven, to release the Church in China from all its persecution and suffering.

Lastly, I ask all the angels and Saints, together with me, to praise the Holy Trinity as I pray the Glory Be.

When I am at the moment of death and during my funeral, I would greatly appreciate it if someone would say the above prayers with me and for me.

Finally, I ask our Merciful God to forgive me for all my shortcomings and sins. I also ask forgiveness of you-my friends, family members, teachers, colleagues, brothers and sisters - for my sins and shortcomings. Please pray for me to rest soon in the Lord's arms.

Thanks and praise to God and the Holy Trinity. Amen!

Signed by Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, S. J.
Dated: July 23, 2006