The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-06-07

I Writ assures us that no defled thir
can enter there. Were heaven a,
cessible To all IL would no longer |
the reward and glory OF the jus
Therefore divine revelation deache
the Christian mind knows, and th
human heart feels that between ever
lasting bliss i'm heaven and endles
woe i'm hell there is an abode wher
the soul that departed this life I'm ven
ial sin and with atonement due TO
mortal sin forgiven is purified $50 a
by fire. (I Cor. l11.15)
This place is called Purgatory an,
the church teaches that the days O
exile OF those confined there may b.
shortened and the severity of thei
punishments mitigated by our pray.
ers for them. She bases this doctrine
on the words OF Holy Scriptures: II
Is a holy and wholesome thought tc
pray for the dead that they may b,
loosened from their sins" Prayer foi
/ the dead is a most consoling doctrine
IL is true solace of the bereaved
heart and the most hitting tribute of
affection we can pay TO our departed.
The practice, as every Catholic knows,
comes down To- us from the earliest
ages OF Christianity and has been
cherished and defended by the church
at all times. Faith dictates it, char
ity demands il. and nothing is more in
conformity with reason and more
natural to the human heart.
The dead are missed, remembered
and mourned. Their good qualities
are extolled, their character praised,
their eminent good deeds are recount
ed. But Q, how seldom are they
prayed for! Remember your dead
who have entered eternity are not look
ing for earthly praise, for floral trib-
utes. nor are they interested in the
real or pretended mourning shown at
their graves. They ask for prayer;
they ask for the holy sacrifice of the
Mass; they ask for holy communions;
they ask for just what you and | would
ask, were we suffering in purgatory.
Amid the occupations of daily life
we are apt To forget that human ma
ture is so constituted as To need a
reminder of things spiritual.
Ideas are conveyed To our mind by
means of the eye. Therefore the
church places before us sacred images
and pictures, not to be adored, but to
draw our mind away from this world
to the contemplation of things super
This is, therefore, the principal rea-
son why we have erected this cruiciiix
above the graves of our dear departed
on this land of the dead for the pur-
pose of reminding us of our divine
Savior, Jesus the Author and F'inisher
IF Faith" who said of Himself II am
the resurrectio" and life; he that be-
ieveth in me, although he be dead,
shall live"
This crucifix is to inspire us with
confidence i'm Him who is our only
Mediator with the Father; il is to in
lite us To implore Him to apply the
merits of His sufferings and death to
rs and to our dear departed ones. |
looking to Jesus. the Author and Fin
sher of Faith" whilst awaiting the |
in these hallowed pre-
,incts.
May the same divine and merciful
Lord, whose blessed image we have |
erected here bountifully reward those |
whose contributions made its erection
possible. And every time we visit this
iacred resting place of our deceased |
owed ones, may this image of our
rucihed Redeemer remind us of our
luty towards the dead. From their |
graves they seem To cry out, Have |
,ity on me, have pity on me. at least
'ou my friends, because the hand of
he Lord has touched me-"
And when you answer this pleading |
ppeal for help, look up to the image
# your Redeemer and present your
prayers TO the Father of mercies, |
through Christ our Lord. Thus the |
hurch concludes her petitions adj
dressed to the Father, stating thereby |
he reason of her hope of being heard. |
Through the same Christ our Lord"
invite you i'm conclusion to join me |
n that fervent and consoling prayer |
If the church: MAY the souls of |
hese and of all the faithful departed. |
through the mercy of God. rest i'm
peace. Amen"