The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-10-27
ALL SOULS.


tianity the believer II the true
religion manifested the deepest
interest in the welfare OF his de-
parted brethren. The Jewish re-
ligion held as one of its precepts
the duty of praying for the dead.
Even paganism admitted the ex-
istenee of hereafter III which
certain souls were punished for
their misdeeds in this life. The
Jews of old were. told that it was
holy and Wholesome thought to
pray for the dead. Christianity,
with its definite and precise doc
trine on actual as well as original
sin, indicates the reason OF the
necessity for praying for the dead.
The real nature Of sin, actual or
original, mortal or venial, is such
that, without any reason whatso-
ever, it hurls defiance in the face
of God. 1t entails both guilt and
lthe necessity for expiation. The
Sacrament Of penance, as an insti-
ttkion Of the New Law, aims dl-
rec4y at removing the stain OF
guilN from the soul. Even after
this gSilt has been wiped out from
the human spirit there usually re-.
mains q debt of punishment, a
penalty thSt must be paid, here or
hereafter, Rfore the soul can be
admitted toxhe sight of the all
pure God.
Christians, hom very earliest
ages, realizing am approaching at
it's full value this doctrine on the
nature of sin, used syery effort in
order to hasten the rdease of their
departed from the\ expiatory
flames in which then possibly
might still be retained.\ To this
purpose the Christian Noffered
prayers, sacrifices Of Various
kinds, and public supplic&ions
for the welfare Of the depaSed.
AS age succeeded age new forss
of this devotion were unfolde6
like a vigorous tree it waXed
strong and stately, producing the
branches, leaves and fruit which
are so many forms of devotion
lall based ON the one doctrine OF
| the communion of fellowship be.
tween the living and the dead
The middle ages were most pro
life in the development of this
devotion. Societies, especially the
guilds, of those times always hao
a provision for the spiritual wei
fare of a departed member. Each
member Of the organization gave
an aims in suffrage for the sou
of him who had gone before
Masses were offered up, public
prayers recited, and various kinds
of works were devoted to the pur
pose of assisting this soul in thu
state of suffering in which it prob
ably might be confined.
| True Christian plety and devo
ton dictate that the living exert
themselves to provide solace fol
the dead. These silent inhabitants
IOf God S acre were once livins
members of our race, Of our com
immunity, possibly of our own fam
lily They were united to us in the
bonds of blood or Of friendship
and in life they commanded anG
received our willing service an6
attention. Now that they art
temporarily separated from us by
the bars Of death it is un-Chris
tian, nay, it is inhuman on ou
part to neglect them in their time
Of need. Were dear friend con
fined in "a gloomy dungeon, sub
ject to suffering and neglect, sure
Ily it were monstrous on our par
to disregard his urgent pleas fol
help and comfort, especially SO j
we easily could afford such assist
ance In the same way our de
lparted brethren are in prison
lthey stand in dire need of hell
(which of themselves they are pow
erless to obtain, but which we con
lveniently can minister to them
Every Christian should during tn
month of the Holy Souls, offe,
Especial prayers and good work
to Almighty God that He ma.
shower His mercy and consolation
upon those of our brethren VIII
may be agonizing in the midst o
excruciating flames.