The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-01-20
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of chain of graces strengthening US
to perform other acts that may con-
stitute saintliness. What can please
God more and move Him to greater
i generosity than that a redeemed soul
should enter the sooner into the pos
\ session of God?
Il The third advantage is that it is an
Heroic Act of Charity. Greater love
than this no man hath than that a
man lay down his life for his
friends" Bear We one another's
4 law of Christ"
The fourth advantage is that it is a
service rendered to God and so makes
those who perform it pleasing to Him.
1t will induce Him to look down on
us and treat us with favor, in a degree
that we should not otherwise have de-
served or obtained God created the
soul for heaven and we are Fastening
its flight thither by this Heroic Act;
we help the yearning souls to ex-
change Purgatory for the Paradise Of
God
The fifth advantage is the JOY there
by given to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
If in the Agony in the Garden the
bitterest drop in His chalice must
have been the neglect of the graces
of His Passion, the greatest consola-
ton we can offer to His Sacred Heart
is that His merits should be applied to
the end for which He offered them
Those who help these Poor Souls
touch the Sacred Heart of Our Lord,
and move Him to a tender and gener-
GUS attitude.
The sixth advantage is the patron
age Of Mary. The Heroic Act is made
into her hands, and by it our heavenly
treasures are placed at her disposal.
The more meritorious the actions we
perform the more our Blessed Lady
has at her disposal There is no other
selves with greater certainty our
Mothers interest and watchful care
} over us. Nor need we fear that she
will forget those whom we love, whom
we are in duty bound to help first. She
knows our obligations better than we
ourselves do.
I The seventh advantage is the hap
piness Of the Holy Angels and es-
} pecially of the Guardian Angel, who
has waited so patiently through life
and has watched so lovingly at the
gates of Purgatory, that he might
present to God the object of all that
tender care.
! The eighth advantage is the friend
ship Of the saints. Heaven is happier
for each accession to the number of
its blessed inhabitants. Who shall
measure the advantage to be derived
; from the gratitude of all these saints.
The ninth advantage Is from the
gratitude of the souls that have been
assisted by US. Let us imagine soul
in Heaven, conscious, in the fulness
of its enjoyment of God, that the day
of its entrance into Heaven has been
fastened by us. It knows the time it
would still have spent in longing de-
sire, and now seeing our needs its
prayers for us in that union with God
have an efficacy unknown before. We
now have an advocate before the
throne of God during the dangers of
life and death; and when our turn in
those flames of purgation shall have
dawned it will remind the Redeemer
of His own doctrine: Blessed are
the merciful for they shall obtain
mercy" And what if we have sent
many such powerful advocates before
us?
The tenth advantage accrues to our
, selves because our attention will thus
be drawn continually to the conse-
} Iquences of venial sin, and we shall be
: induced more earnestly than ever to
shrink from all that could add to the
debt we have already incurred by for
mer sim
It must be remembered that by this
Heroic Act we are far indeed from CIV
: ing up everything. Sacrifice has four
: ends and every. good action has in
, some degree the nature of sacrifice
: Now of these four we give up one and
!, only one. We give up satisfaction,
! which corresponds to punishment and
: atoning, and nothing else. But the
/ alteration and service of God we per-
: form in manner more to His glory.
, Personal merit we could not part with
} IL we would, for every man shall be
judged according to his works, and
merit is the measure of the reward
that each one shall receive at the
hands of the ADJUST Judge. Our in
, crease of merit means an increase OF
grace here, and an increase of glory
! hereafter, and this, and not any loss,
: is the fruit of the Heroic Act We
can still pray for ourselves, for our
/ relatives, for whomsoever and for
whatsoever we wish; for the power
j of imprecation, of beseeching, remains
! in full force and is even strengthened,
! because God lends a more willing ear
to the merciful and rewards charity a
! hundredfold. He is never outdone in
! generosity. Are you ready to become
! such hero? Do not hesitate.