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 believe that  their  fallen  brethren  were  with  the  blessed  in  Limbo,  for otherwise their  sin-offerings  for  them  would  have  had  no  meaning. No, they believed: a)  that  those  who  had  been  slain  were  in  a middle  state between  that  of  the  blessed  and  that  of  the  damned;  b)  that  they  had to make  satisfaction  for  venial  sin; and  c)  that  the  survivors  could  help them  by  prayers  and  sacrifices,  and  thus  make  satisfaction  for  them  to the  divine  justice,  so  that  they  might  be  delivered  from  their  present state.  Holy  Scripture  testifies  that  this  belief  is  a correct  one,  since  it praises  Judas  for  offering  up  these  prayers  and  sacrifices,  saying  explicitly: “It  is  a holy  and  wholesome  thought  to  pray  for  the  dead.”  This  completely corroborates  the  Catholic  doctrine  of  purgatory,  and  of  prayers for  the  dead.

Prayers for  the  dead. It  is  a “holy”  thought  to  pray  for  the  dead, because it  proceeds  from  a living  faith  and  a sincere  brotherly  love. It is  also  a “wholesome”  thought,  for  these  prayers  help  the  holy  souls as well  as  ourselves. They procure  for  them  admission  to  heaven,  and they increase  our  merits  and,  moreover,  bind  the  delivered  souls,  out of gratitude,  to  intercede  for  us  before  the  throne  of  God. This leads us on  to  another  Catholic  doctrine,  also  confirmed  by  this  story, namely:

The intercession  of  the  Saints.  In  Judas’  vision  not  only  did  Onias pray for  the  Jews,  but  he  said  that  Jeremias  also  prayed  for  them (“This is  he  that  prayeth  much  for  the  people,  and  for  all  the  holy city,  Jeremias,  the  prophet  of  God”). The Saints,  therefore,  know  about us and  care  for  us,  for  our  sufferings,  struggles  and  necessities;  and seek to  help  us  by  their  intercession. Jeremias appeared  as  the  special guardian and  patron  of  Jerusalem. In the  same  way  we  believe  that those Saints  who  have  been  chosen  and  devoutly  venerated,  as  the special patrons  of  individual  Christians,  or  of  churches,  villages,  towns, parishes or  estates,  intercede  especially  for  those  who  have  been  committed to  their  care.

The virtues  of  the  Machabees. Mathathias  and  his  sons  fought  a noble  fight. They did  not  take  up  arms  out  of  ambition  or  thirst  for renown, but  simply  out  of  holy  zeal  for  God’s  honour,  for  liberty  of conscience  and  the  welfare  of  their  country. They said:  “It  is  better for us  to  die  in  battle,  than  to  see  the  evils  of  our  nation  and  of  the holies.” They  were  ready  to  bleed  and  die  for  God  and  for  their country. They carried  on  the  war  with  heroic  courage  and  endurance, and their  heroism  proceeded  from  their  unshaken  confidence  in  God. They fought  not  only  for  God,  but  with  Him. They knew  that  they could not  overcome  without  His  help,  so  before  the  battle,  and  in  the battle, they  called  on  Him,  and  after  it  they  humbly  gave  Him  the glory, and  thanked  Him  who  had  given  them  the  victory.

The power  of  prayer.  The  wonderful  assistance  which  was  so repeatedly  granted  to  Judas  shows  us  the  power  of  fervent  and  trustful