The recent mention of the possible canonization of Paul VI reminds me of something I read in Pontiff, by Gordon Thomas, concerning his last hours. In his final moments the pope asked those surrounded by him to pray for him, then a bit later began saying the Our Father:
Fontana bends over Paul, listening for an unusually long time to his chest. He feels for the pope's pulse. The doctor straightens and looks at the others. Then he glances at Paul's alarm clock to verify the time. It is 9:40 P.M. There is a distinct tremor in his voice as he pronounces: "It is over."
At that precise moment the ancient alarm clock, which had rung at six-thirty that morning and which had not been rewound or reset, begins to shrill, filling the bedroom with its tinny sound.
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