The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-11-18
HOLY SOULS.
We Assist God to Help Free the Souls
in Purgatory.


CBishop Cotton in Catholic Union and
Times.)
We need not enter into the doctrine
Of purgatory, which has always been
taught by the Holy Church and which
Is proven by the Scriptures, old and
new, and which is so reasonable in it.
self, despite what opposing sects may
say; nor need We enter into any de-
tailed account of what the Fathers
have said with regard to it, but merely
accept the fact that it is Catholic
teaching and give to it our ready belief
and let it inspire the thoughts in mind
and heart which are proper TO it. What
are these thoughts? They are surely
thoughts of sympathy for the suffering
souls and determination to help them
all we can.
l. We assist God to help free the
souls in purgatory. God loves those
souls with an INDISPENSABLE love. He
loved them in life because of their
close, and, in some cases. almost per
feet union with Him. and He loved
them in death still more because their
salvation was secured. And love goes
on with impatient and increasing force.
the longer they are separated from
Him. If there be anything more than
another that we can do to please God
il must be to shorten their sufferings
and liberate the souls in purgatory. for
OF all His children outside His heaven
~ home these surely are the most be-
loved, since they are the nearest. when
We consider the uncertainties of saliva
ton for all in life nearest and dearest.
because with Hir poner or later. they
viii enjoy the d. git. 4 paradise. Let
us then show o. love God by giving
Him what we c,.n - our merits to re-
turn and bring % Himself souls so
precious and deal u T. i'm.
:. We owe it to tie suffering souls
themselves to help them 1t is a char
ity we owe them beca use they suffer
1t is a duty to relieve them because
they are our brethren. They are our
kinsmen, our parents, relatives and
friends, and so justice as well as char
1ty claims for them all the relief we
can give. Possibly some of these sur
fer for our faults we caused them 10
commit and hence justice Of more than
an ordinary degree demands that We
help to release them. Some OF these
souls when they were i'm life did much
for us. They are our parents, perhaps.
who fondly watched over us and pro
Tided for our wants; our brothers and
sisters, who frightened and sweet
ened our lives; kind relatives and
and whose goodness and friendship we
did not adequately requite We are
debtors TO all these and can more than
repay all by giving them the Offering
OF our prayers and good works. How
often we place flowers upon the graves
of our loved ones, there 10 fade and
wither before another sun has set. and /
how senseless these for Catholics mn
less accompanied by the prayers of
those who give them. Let us Irvine the |
memories Of the departed around our
minds and hearts and keep them ever /
fresh and green by the dews Of Gods |
grace falling gently on them in re- |
Spouse to our prayers IN their behalf
3. IT is a duty we owe ourselves il, /
pray for the faithful departed. In !
helping them we shall help ourselves. |
Their release viii serve powerfully 60 I
save US. Their happiness attained VIII |
be the forerunner of our own. They
viii return our goodness 2 hundred 7
fold. Our Lord and tire whole heavent,- !
court win show their gratitude for the I
souls we add 10 the number of the elect t
by greater graces for ourselves Our
charity viii be doubly blessed and the /
justice we satisfy for others will JUS
fify US before God and make us pleas
ing in His sight Whilst praying for
fully conscious Of our own sad state
which. after ali. is in one respect.
the uncertainty Of our end,
sadder even than theirs. But VIC viii
be the more mindful to prepare for "A
happy death. if we help those who have
died we'll to enter their glory THE
remembrance of the souls in
viii keen US mindful that
soon we must be numbered with the
dead. and this thought viii prepare 4us
10 meet our God and our Judge, who
viii reward our charity to them by ali
the greater charity 10 US. Let US then
DO all we can for the souls in pursa-
tory, and unite with Holy Church nl
Her never-ceasing prayer: May the
souls Of the faithful departed. through
the mercy Of God, rest in peace.
In the spirit Of Holy Church let US
never tire Of praying for the faithful
departed. This month Of November Is
consecrated to their memory.