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 prison, if  such  were  in  accordance  with  God's  will. But God's  wisdom  and  providence  have  decreed otherwise. Therefore Mary  does  not  pray  for the release  of  all  souls  in  purgatory,  but  recommends them,  in  conformity  with  God's  will,  to His  mercy. St. Bernardine  of  Sienna  applies  to Mary  the  words  of  Holy  Scripture,  "I  have  penetrated into  the  bottom  of  the  deep  and  have  walked in  the  waves  of  the  sea"  (Ecclus.  xxiv.  8),  and says: "She  descends  into  that  sea  of  suffering  and soothes  the  pains  of  the  poor  souls." St. Denis the Carthusian  remarks,  that  when  the  name  of Mary  is  mentioned  in  purgatory,  the  souls  there imprisoned experience  the  same  relief  as  when  a sick  person  hears  words  of  consolation  on  his  bed of pain.

Therefore let  us  entrust  our  prayers  for  the souls in  purgatory  to  Mary. She will  present  our petitions to  God,  and  thus  presented,  He  will speedily hear  and  graciously  grant  them.

Prayer of  the  Church  (p. 75).

Litany of  Loreto  (p. 322).

E hail  thee,  strong  child,  who  didst  put  to flight  all  hell  and  the  powers  of  darkness. We give  thee  our  homage,  and  with  all  our  hearts we pray  thee  to  vouchsafe  in  thy  goodness  to  be born  again  in  spirit  in  our souls,  that,  led  captive