The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-11-01
NOVEMBER DEvoTIoNs.

NOVEMBER DEvoTIoNs.
November is month dear to
the heart of the faithful children
Of the Church. It recalls in an
especial manner the spiritual re-
lationship existing between the
members Of the Church Militant
on earth and their brethren of
the Church Triumphant in heav-
en- and of the Church Suffering
in Purgatory. 1t brings to mind
the sacred and soul-satisfying sig
nifcance of the Church s teach
ing in regard to the Communion
of Saints, and emphasizes the
value of a practical application
of this doctrine to the needs Of
the individual soul.
At the beginning of the month
our thoughts are turned heaven
ward to salute the glorious army
of Saints, known and unknown,
who have already entered into
the possession Of their eternal in
heritance. Their periods of pro-
baton and Of purgation have
given place to the enjoyment of
unending happiness with the
Lamb in Whose precious and
plentiful blood they were cleans
ed from their iniquities. They
are secure in the possession of
God for evermore. But they do
not cease to be our brethren; the
bond of charity that unites them
to us is still unbroken; they are
intensely interested in our spirit
ual welfare. They have expert
enced the trials Of life, they
know the difficulties under which
we now labor and they are able
to help us if we invoke their aid.
The purpose Of All Saints Day is
to call our attention to their
present condition Of heavenly
peace and joy and to urge us to
have recourse to their interces-
sion in order that, when life s
fstormy waves have subsidized, we
may join their ranks in the har-
Dor Of eternal repose.
When we have imbibed new
spiritual vigor from the contem-
plation of the happiness of the
Saints, Holy Mother Church calls
our attention to the needs Of the
poor souls, our brethren, also,
who are being cleansed from the
deflement Of sin in purgatorial
fire. She bids us harken to the
unceasing appeal for help which
ever ascends from the depths of
their prison house: Have pity
on me, have pity on me, at least
you, my friends, because the hand
Of the Lord hath touched me. "
We can do much to relieve
their suffering by our prayers
and good works, and the bond of
Christian charity which still
unites us to them makes it incum-
bent on us to assist them in their
necessities. Our individual pray
ers and good deeds will help to
, alleviate their suffering; but we
, must not forget the teaching OF
our holy faith which bids us
recognize the supreme value and
efficacy of the Holy Sacrifice OF
the Mass when offered up in be-
, half of the souls in Purgatory
One holy Mass will avail them
more than all the prayers we car
say, because it makes special
application to them of the re.
deeming blood of the Saviour
So pressing are their needs
that the Church dedicates the
whole month Of November tc
them and exhorts us to be mind
full of them in our daily devo
| tons. This remembrance Of the
| poor souls in Purgatory is salu
tary practise enriched with In
? Vulnerable indulgences and in The
highest degree meritorious in the
! sight of God. Self-interest, if ne
| higher motive, should prompt III
: to come to their aid, for we know
5 that if we are instrumental in re
| leasing one poor soul or even il
3 fastening its departure from Pur
t gatory, it will be mindful of oul
E necessities when it enters int
! glory. The souls released from
: Purgatory will pray for all whose
t petitions touched the heart of thu
{ Saviour and caused the JUNCTION o.
: divine mercy to descend upor
i them In more copious showers.