Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/579

 whom they  owe  their  deliverance,  and  will  not  cease  their prayers until  the  latter  are  either  brought  straight  to  heaven, or released  from  purgatory.

T would  seem  like  carrying  coals  to  Newcastle,  or  water to the  river,  to  exhort  Religious  to  exercise  charity by offering  their  suffrages  in  behalf  of  the  poor,  holy  souls in purgatory.

The true  and  zealous  Religious  will  not  fail  to  offer  the holy sacrifice  of  the  Mass  and  holy  communion  very  frequently for  the  faithful  departed. The Way  of  the  Cross, the Rosary,  Novenas,  and  Litanies  are  good  devotions  for the same  purpose. The De  Profundis,  besides  other  indulgenced  prayers  and  ejaculations,  should  be  made  use  of daily  and  frequently  during  the  day  in  aid  of  the  poor  souls.

The good  Religious  will  nourish  the  most  tender  com- passion for those  who  are  now  absolutely  incapable  of  assisting themselves,  and  who  must  remain  separated  from  God  until the  last  farthing  is  paid,  either  by  their  own  sufferings, or by  the  interposition  of  the  faithful. Many powerful motives should  induce  you  to  be  most  fervent  in  assisting them: By  this  spiritual  work  of  mercy  you  prove  your  love for God,  you  benefit  your  neighbor,  and  acquire  great  merit for yourself. You prove  your  love  for  God  by  interceding for those  holy  souls  who  are  so  dear  to  His  divine  Majesty, and whom  He  so  ardently  longs  to  glorify  for  ever. You perform an  act  of  the  greatest  charity  toward  these  suffering, holy  souls,  by  endeavoring  to  shorten  their  banishment where  they  are  tortured  by  a  fire  far  more  terrible than any  earthly  fire,  and  deprived  of  the  sight  of  God,  a torment  more  excruciating  than  all  other  pains. And you essentially serve  your  own  soul  by  providing  for  yourself powerful advocates  who  will  not  forget  you  when  they stand before  God.

Let these  considerations  animate  you  to  do  all  you  can for the  souls  in  purgatory. Devote fervently  many  prayers, good works,  and  various  actions  and  mortifications  to  their relief, and  endeavor  to  gain  many  indulgences  for  their benefit. Offer up,  in  particular,  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the Mass on  Mondays  for  this  intention. But you  should  particularly impress  on  your  mind  that  sloth  or  negligence  in the  prayers  or  actions  which  you  offer  for  the  suffering  souls would make  you  very  unworthy  of  being  heard,  and,  far from benefiting  those  for  whom  you  pray,  you  would  only expose yourself  to  a  severe  purgatory  hereafter  in  the  same fire which  torments  them.