Prayer.
Release, O Lord, etc., etc.
Twenty-second Day.
Let us consider more particularly by what means we can assist the poor souls. We can greatly and powerfully assist them, and the holy Council of Trent expressly points out the means we should use. It says particularly that the faithful can help the poor souls detained in purgatory by their prayers, and by the most holy sacrifice of the Mass. This, as you will perhaps observe, has been said several times [pg 459] already in this book. True, but it is in order that I may point out the conditions which are required to make those means effective that I again speak of them now. What is necessary, primarily, is that we have the intention of helping the poor souls, otherwise our good works are all put down to our own account, or if we do not stand in need of them, they are put into what is called the treasury of the Church, and then they are beyond our disposition. It is not, however, necessary to make a new intention before every action. It is sufficient to make once for all an intention of doing certain things for the sake of the suffering souls, and then not withdrawing it again. Still it is advisable to renew it now and again, as for instance at morning prayers or at Mass. It is necessary to be in a state of grace if we wish to help the souls by our good works or by our own personal prayers, penance, indulgences, and so forth. He who is in a state of sin cannot make satisfaction for himself; how then can he do so for others? How can he who is a captive redeem himself, or give freedom to others?
Prayer.
Release, O Lord, etc., etc.
Twenty-third Day.
The giving of alms for the benefit of the souls in purgatory, is one of the means over which the Fathers of the Church grew eloquent. Nor indeed is it necessary to make use of the sayings of the early Fathers, for we can find abundant proof of the efficacy of alms related in the Holy Scriptures. The [pg 460] angel Raphael said to Tobias: “Alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.” Elsewhere we find: “Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sin.” But let us listen to the Fathers of the Church. St. Leo writes: “Alms atone for sin, destroy death, and extinguish the flames of eternal fire.” St. Chrysostom calls alms-giving “a heavenly ladder, leading to God's right hand, and a sure refuge for those who give as well as for those who receive.” St. Paulinus praises a Roman nobleman, who on the death of his beloved wife assembled all the poor and destitute of the city in St. Peter's Church, and distributed food among them in order to comfort and help her whose loss he bewailed. And St. Hieronymus, speaking of the same nobleman, says that while other husbands adorn their wife's graves with violets, roses and lilies, this one pours the balm of alms over the sacred dust and venerable remains of his beloved wife. The petition for alms from the worthy poor is like the knocking at your door of a poor soul in purgatory.