The New York herald., 1874-11-09
ST. MARY's STAR OF THE SEA.
Purgatory-Pray for tho Souls Of III
Fuithful DcpaTted.

PurH atOry-Fray fOr the Souls O1 601
Faithful Departed.
At the principal service held yesterday forenoon
Rev. Father O'Nen preached q sermon on the char
ty Of prayers for the souls OF the faithful departed
The reverend gentleman. after dwelling upon the
punishment which beiel Luciler and the other 70.
belious angels OF the court OF heaven for having
conceived the thought OF placing themselves ON
an equality with God, spoke OF the divine mercy
OF the Creator Tor man, who was continually vio-
lating HIS laws and living In defiance OF His
commandments. This month is specially devoted
by the Church to rendering assistance to
the souls OF the faithful departed BY prayer, that
they may be released from the purifying flames of
that temporary place OF punishment and admitted
to mansions OF eternal bliss. Have pity on mo
Have pity on me at least you, my friends, for the
hand Of God has stricken me !" are the words o
JOB, which express their appeal to those whom
words word Would soften the nh heart art Of r stone one
The cry is not to strangers, but to
savs Sss who are Of the same s Tns
sacraments. Purgatory is an abyss or Are to which
hundreds OF thousands Oi souls VINO belong to God
are consigned every day. They cannot nelp them.
selves because time Tor them is no more, and thcy
have to render an account and exptate by lire
the penalty due the sins oi lies told IN JOKE. in
upon Others lor distraction during the sacrifice OF
the mass. neglect at prayers going In the way OF
the neglect or alteration for God, vanity ana self.
love- 1t is written tnat no one shall enter heaven
unless he be Tree from all SIN.
NOTHING DEF1LED CAN ENTER HEAVEN.
Hence 1t IS that in purgatOry the souls VI the
just are detained until they are cieansed OF their
SIM soul departing IN vcnlal sin behOlds the
face OF God with unspeakable JOY. but shudders
at the thought OF entering the Divine presence
until purged Of all stain OF sin by expiation In
the fires OF purgatory. il you claim God as your
father 1t Is your duty as HIS child to be
ODedlent TO His win You will therefore obey
Him by Offering your prayers lor those poof
souls in purgatory who are awaiting their release.
They are your brothers IN Jesus Christ ana you
are bound In duty to assist them. How often do
We see grand funerals take place, the deceased
being persons who have dieu sustained by the
sacramcnts and OF whom the relatives anu friends
say, after they nave been Consigned TO their mar
row res,ing place and the worms, "We can DO no
more for them ana we Know they are in heaven a~
Thus, TOO often. are the faithful souls abandoned
by those whom IN lie they have loved and be-
frlended III dire extremity. 1--WE know they are
In heaven" IS blasphemous assertion. Tor wac
shall restrict the justice or Gods When you
will oe In purgatory yourself you know
not, and you, too Will need prayers Tor your de.
dying, Is sufficiently pure to enter heaven. The
speaker concluded his remarks Dy urging his
hearers to retain in their memory what they had
heard from the priest, and not to turn deaf ear a.
tncv too often do. Remember wnat IS to be re.
membered lot your salvatiOn's sake and forget the
man. as 1t matters not wnetner YOU ike his style
OF delivery or not. Try to find some OF the imper.
science. and never ia to ask the assistance oi
God and the blessed Vngln Mary IN behalf OF the
souls o the faithful departed VINO one day Will De
able thereby TO make intercesslon Tor you.