The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-14
.wHAToLoyELY MASSES"

tbah PeSSH5
To THE EDITOR or THE NEWS.
sIR-I see that the generous fund for the
widow ana children of the late Thomas Mel
son. killed by the awful explosion on the
counterweight lire. bids fair to reach and pass
one thousand dollars.
The question has arisen in my mind
whether this fund will all 90 for the care of
the bodies OF Mrs. Nelson and the babies, or
must considerable part OF It be used 20 help
Tommy Nelson's soul along through purga-
tory?
In this connection may quote domestic
IN a friends family. who, on learning of the
success of the fund. remarked with enthus-
iasm: "What lovely masses he can have"
Very truly yours
CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FUND.
Providence, R. l., March ls
So far as this esteemed correspondent
questions what use Mrs. NELSON will
make of the fund now piling up so
splendidy for her benefit, we can only
reply that we don't know and have no
means of knowing anything about 1t.
All we know is that the many friends Of
"ToMMY" NELSON are contributing gen.
erously for the immediate succor of the
family thus left without support.
We believe that TOMMY NELSON
died in the Roman Catholic faith, and
we suppose that Mrs. NELSON is of that
faith. AS we understand the tenets of
the Roman Catholic faith the soul, on
leaving the body, is supposed to pass a
time in purgatory. This period of the
transition of the soul through
purgatory is, we understand,
long or short, dependent upon
the rectitude, or otherwise, of character
of the deceased, and the opportunity
afforded him for making his peace with
his Maker before dissolution. But the
period in purgatory, being measured, we
believe. not by life but by eternity, is, at
the shortest, seemingly long time.
some hundreds of years, perhaps
short time only by comparison
with eternity. Moreover, as we under
stand it, the torments of purgatory are
supposed 10 be much more severe than
the tortures of he'll, and accordingly 1t
is desirable TO get the soul through this
state as soon as practicable.
Now, as we understand the doctrine
Of the Roman Church, the soul is as
sisted on its way through purgatory,
and after getting through, is elevated
In its station in Heaven, by the opera
tion of masses. Masses are Of two
kinds, high and low. and the reading Ct
the masses cuts off corresponding
number of days of the existence
in purgatory and speeds the soul on its
way through and out. Thus the period
In purgatory may evidently be rapidly
shortened by arranging for number of
masses by number Of priests which
may be read every day in the week
except Sunday. Should it happen that
more masses are read than are absolutely
necessary 10 release the soul from purga-
tory they are still not wasted, for they
contribute to the elevation of the soul
in Heaven or may be applied to the
succor of other worthy souls who may
not have anybody on earth to look after
the singing or reading of masses for
them.
OF course these masses are paid for,
the Church, we believe, having certain
price, say, dollar for high M ass and II
lesser price for low mass-correspond
ing to the difference in the benefits Sc
cured. The charge is evidently justified
just as it would be for the service
Of the minister at wedding
or a funeral. And it is
customary, we suppose, for the family
of the deceased to have as many masses
read as they can afford TO pay for, that
the soul Of him who is dead may have
its term OF suffering shortened as much
as may be. The natural inclination
would evidently be to release the soul
entirely as soon us possible ii there were
enough money to pay the reasonable
charges, although rapid service on
behalf of a soul, which would normally
be two or three hundred years in passing
through purgatory, would evidently be
quite costly, as the reducing power of
single mass is not measured by years,
but rather by days, as we understand.
Now, so far as the inquiry of our COR
respondent is concerned, We should be
disposed 10 believe that Mrs. NELSON
might have concern about the welfare
of her husbands soul which her faith
tells her is suffering in purgatory. Aud
while we have no means OF knowing
what her plans are, we should think
that she would he disposed to avail her
self of some of the funds placed in her
hands for furthering the progress OF her
husbands soul through its present
state and would be as distinctly
grateful for the means thus afforded her
10 do this as for the assistance the money
,..tn -. L. e.. Al