The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-10-31
NUMBER 80.

PurGatory is nothing to it as purgatory. The
burning instinct which forces it toward God,
only to find an impeachment, constitutes its roal
torture.
BY last act of love, God, the author of this
plan fcT the perfection of the soul, works with
ont tho concurrCrce of man for there are in
the soul 10 many hidden imperfectiops that II
il saw them it would be in despair. But the
state of which We have just spoken destroys
them all. 1t is only when they are obliteratod
that God shows them to the soul, in order that
it may comprehend tho divine operation
wrought by this ire of love consuming all its
impevtections.
CHAPTER MI.
How JoyfA!iy suffering is endured in Purgatory.
Remember that what man considers perfect
in itsclf, is full of defects in the eyes OF God
Everything man does which has the appear
ance of perfection from the point Of view in
which he sees it, or feels, understands, wills,
or recalls ii, il soIl"d aud infected If he does
not attTibu'e it to God.
Oar deeds are perfect only when they are
wrought by Us, without considering ourselves
the principal agents, and wl'nt they are re-
fcrrGd to God, We brln. only hi4 Instruments.
Snrh are precisely tho final operations of
pure love wrought by God himself in tho soul.
without any merit on our part. These opera
tons AFRO So ardent and 40 Penetrating in their
effects upon the sDal, that 1t seems as though
the body which euvoops it would be consumed
in great fire where death alone could give
relief.
1t ia true that tho love of God which fills the
soul in purgatory inspires ii, according to my
comprehension, with joy that cannot be OPP
pressed. Bat this satisfaction does not take
away mo particle of the pain. Nay, it IL Ii"
hinderiug of love from the possession OF it,
object which causes the pain, and the pain is
in proportion to the perfection Of the love OF
which God has made tho sou, capable.
Thus it is that the souls IN purgatory at
once enjoy the greatest tranquility aud endure
the greatest pain ana ;Ae one in no way
hindeIs the other.
CHATTER NH.
", b.. .,,.I.,,. in Ilr.,atory- y
IL" souls in rnrG't"ry r"s~I" the 7"n'ASe' made N
Ihrr b"hat on "i!i".
Ii the stains Of tho souls in rurgatory could
BE en-. iced by c"n;rIt,on, tho divine Justice
light n an Instant be satisfied, SO profound
and len; = their sorrow in view of the great
obstacle which opposes their union with God,
their chief cad H.! their love.
Hat, r,laru.. .rr, God has docreri that tn"
last f,rtLIug Is 10 bs demanded of these souls
for the satisfaction Of eternal justice" As to
them, they have no choiee; taoy can now see
and wish only hat God wishes. HIS Is the
uualteE.h,r state of their -Oui-.
II souIr it', "A ti:alHts are gwen on earth to
abriige The ti!nr Of their sutlciInSs they can
not regard them with affection, only ~ they
are weighed IA the equitable scales of the d.
vIEe Will, leaving God to act according TO h's
own pleasure, aud to pay himself and his JUS
tice in tho way his own Infinite goodness
chooses 10 select.
If !, we're possible for them to regard these
aims apart from the good pleasure OF COO they
would ho guilty of an act OF appropriation
which wOH!d deprive them of the knowledge
Of tie divine will, and TINS make their ABODE
hell ~
with tranquility, and neither joy, nor satlsiac-
ton, nor suif-rinSs can ever induce them 10
fall back upon themselves.
CHAPTER XIv.
OF the submission Of he rous in PurSatoF' 10 tho ""
OF cod
These spus are perfectly CONFIRMED to tie
will OF God that they are always satisfied win
his holy decre"s
INIT Fad "a, he q EInp n