The Irish standard., 1903-11-07

this life, prompting us to implore his
aid, if he be in a condition to afford
it, or if he be in a condition to re-
ceive it, to proffer consolation.
Every day we see instances of it.
Look ut the lone mother, as she kneels
upon the newly made grave of her on
ly child for whom she spent herself;
all that she held dear in this world
has been laid away in the cemetery.
The burial is over, and Borrowing aid
fearful, she re-enters her now empty
home, that home the soul of which she
feels has departed. That her child is
gone, she realizes that now she is
alone, that day after day, month after
month, year after year will have to
be spent without him. Spring will
come and he will not be there-sum-
mer, and he will not be there - she
will never have him again with her
by the fireside in the long winter
night. He has gone from her and can
she ever show her affections or make
up for the possible omissions in the
past by filling future days with ten
derness and affection?
Oh! the anguish of that thought,
that we can never atone to our dead
for the stinted affections we gave
them; for the light answers we re-
turned to their plants or their plead
ing; for the little reverence we show.
ed to that sacred human soul within
them, that lived so close to us, and
was the best thing God had given us
to know. Though during this life we
may not have imagined this, with the
terrible keenness Of memory and imag-
nation, which bereavement gives, we
feel as if the love we did tender needs
to be pardoned for its poverty and sell
fishness, and no outward solace can
counteract the bitterness of this in,
ward woe. There is one thing to do;
it is the duty alluded to in the affect.
ing request familiar to all, and yet
which never can be omitted, when
there is u question of Purgatory, since
it is consecrated by the religious sym
pathy of Christian world. 1 refer
to that scene where Saint Augustine,
who after covering the deathbed of
his sainted Mother Monica with tears
ut her affecting request, later on cried
to God, II pour out thee."-(St. Aug.
conf. Book IN, CHI. XIII, page 234)
Here we have powerful and touch
ing example. How many souls are
yearly buried from this Church? Who
amongst us has not some dear de.
parted friend, perhaps Il kind father
or mother, and loving brother or Sis
ter; do we remember them? They
may have been good, they may have
led most edifying lives; but when they
appear in the presence Of the all
seeing God, they may not be found
stainless. st. Paul says we all offend
in many things; yes, the very best
Christians must tremble at the dread
full account they must give of every
idle word they speak. Let US con-
stantly remember these poor souls
cannot help themselves, that they con-
tinually cry out to US.
Such is the sweetness and consola-
ton Of this intercession for the dead,
that it ceaselessly returns. 1t so fully
accords with the finest feelings of the
human heart that really believe If
God had not revealed this veneration
for the beloved departed souls, that
the heart itself would have invented
1t.
Purgatory is therefore one of d.
vine Loves masterpieces, in which is
displayed much of Coils magnifcence
and grandeur. By it He gives a d.
vine respite and makes His resources
Of pardoning more easily; by it He
has modified and enlarged the narrow
and rugged paths which lead to Para
disc. The doctrine of Purgatory is
then the doctrine of every age, OF
every country and Of every religion,
nay, n doctrine of the human heart,
of which it never can be Invested. We
care not for the imputation of this
pagan origin; for what were the uni
versal principles of paganism but the
fragments of truth originally revealed
to man, dislocated and deformed by
those by whom they were continually
broken? 1t is "A consolation to the
Catholic to reflect that he is united by
mutual interchanges of charity with
the most remote members of the
Church of Christ; and that the link
which binds them together is too
strong to be sundered by distance or
death, and stretches to another world,
embracing Heaven, Earth and Purga-
tory in the amplitude Of its connec-
ton.
Divinity Of the religion of Jesus
Christ, and tenderness. the most ten
der of the heart. That God has been
so great and good as to permit prayer
for the dead-mournfu sorrow aided
by powerful prayer. The two united
| forming something l know not how