Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/802

 depends upon  the  dispositions  of  the  penitent,  and  the  care and accuracy  he  employs  in  fulfilling  the  conditions  laid down.

It only  remains  to  add  that,  though  the  Church  has  no  direct  jurisdiction  over  the  souls  in  purgatory,  she  authorizes and  encourages,  as  a  work  of  supreme  charity,  the application of  indulgences,  by  way  of  suffrage,  to  the  needs of those  afflicted  souls;  and  we  may  confidently  assure ourselves that  these  suffrages  are  most  acceptable  to  the divine Majesty,  and  that  what  the  Church  would  thus,  as it  were,  indirectly  loose  in  purgatory,  is  speedily  loosed  also in heaven,  amid  the  rejoicing  of  all  the  heavenly  court,  to the  great  glory  of  God,  and  to  the  incalculable  benefit,  as well  of  the  suffering  souls  as  of  their  earthly  benefactors.

Note. — The  following  indulgenced  prayers  and  ejaculations may  be  used  very  profitably  in  all  our  exercises  of piety;  e.g.,  at  Morning  and  Night  Prayer,  at  Mass,  Communion, and  Visits  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  and  in  particular for  the  relief  of  the  holy  souls  in  purgatory.

F you  would  serve  God  faithfully  and  piously,  you must not  rest  satisfied  with  saying  your  morning  and evening prayers;  you  must  also  often  raise  your  heart  to God  during  the  day,  at  your  work,  and  in  your  temptations. In order  to  render  this  easier  to  you,  the  following  prayers, enriched by  the  Church  with  numerous  indulgences,  have been collected  together. They will  thus  tend  both  to  your own good  and  the  relief  of  the  poor  souls. "We forget  too often  our  dear  deceased,"  says  St. Francis of  Sales. St. Ignatius can  not  sufficiently  praise  and  esteem  indulgences. He exhorts  us  for  the  love  of  God  to  set  high  value  on  them. St. Alphonsus  Liguori  advises  us  to  make  the  intention  in our  morning  prayers  to  gain  all  the  indulgences  in  which we can  participate  during  the  day. Try to  draw  the  greatest profit  from  these  prayers. Learn some  of  them  by heart,  so  as  to  have  them  ready  in  time  of  work  or  temptation. Repeat them  as  often  as  you  can,  and  in  a  short