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185.1
[i]
First Point
It
is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be
delivered from their sins.[ii]
This is what Judas says in the second Book of Macchabees, chapter 12. This
is, indeed, one of the best and most holy instructions that can be given
to us, because it leads us to do what is most advantageous for the souls
in purgatory. Since they cannot help themselves, and cannot secure any of
the relief they need to be delivered from their sufferings, they need to
be assisted by the prayers and good works of those who are still living.
What a painful condition it is for them to be detained in devouring
flames because during this life they did not make up for some less serious
sins, or for not having entirely expiated the sins which caused them to
lose sanctifying grace. This is why these holy souls, although entirely
submissive in this state to the will of God, urgently beg for the prayers
of the living, which can obtain for them often quite easily what is
impossible for them, because God is not willing to accept in expiation for
their sins whatever good they can do, since he gave them enough time
during life to satisfy for their sins.
Look with compassion on the state of these holy souls who, although
free from fear, yearn for their deliverance so that they may be able
quickly to enjoy God, which they await with hope in the infinite goodness
of God, and assured that they will have the benefit of being delivered
from their sufferings.
185.2
Second Point
There
is for us an element of obligation to pray often to God for the suffering
souls in purgatory. First, God has abandoned them to his divine justice
for as long as he wills according to the gravity of their sins and the
little care they took in this world to do penance for them. God does not
allow them after death any other means than the suffrages of the faithful
who are still in this life, which they can apply to the holy souls by
prayers, or fasting and other penances, or by alms, by the holy Sacrifice
of the Mass, or by any other works of satisfaction that there may be.
Second, we are united with these holy souls by an external union,
since we are all members of the Church and of Jesus Christ[iii]
himself. We are also united with them in Jesus Christ through sanctifying
grace which we share with them. These two kinds of union should inspire us
with sentiments of compassion for these suffering souls.
185.3
Third Point
But what makes particularly clear to us how much we are obliged to
sympathize with the sufferings of these just souls in their afflictions,
and what should most strongly engage us to help them in all kinds of ways,
is the fact that the Church, our common Mother, overlooks nothing to
inspire us with this zeal in favor of her suffering children, for whom she
is full of tenderness.
We should consequently unite with her as her members to offer God
our prayers and the holy sacrifice of the Mass, so that joined with her
and all the faithful who are her members, and who make up only one body
with her,[iv]
we may easily obtain from God, by this very intimate union and this
abundance of prayers and suffrages, the prompt deliverance of these
suffering souls. They in their turn, once they are in heaven, will be able
to secure for us many graces by their prayers, so that we too may procure
this joy.
Today, then, take part in the spirit of the Church and unite
yourselves to her in all the prayers and sacrifices that she offers to God
for the relief of the souls in purgatory. Implore for them the help of God
with all possible fervor and earnestness, so as to have the honor of being
worthy members of the Church, and cooperators with Jesus Christ[v]
in the redemption of these captive souls.
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This
feast became part of the liturgy of the universal Church in the 14th
century. Prior to that it was a long-standing practice of the
Benedictines, begun during the 10th century at the Abbey of Cluny by Saint
Odilon. At one time it was a practice for each priest to say three Masses
on this day.
[i] Number 184 is part of the Additions whcih are placed at
the end of the original edition and of this edition also.
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