The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-11-08
THE HEROIC ACT FOR THE SOULS
IN PURGATORY
written for The Catholic Bulletin by
Rev. James Walcher.l

Mathis and Lauds, as was his GUS
tom, when the door-bell rang. When
he opened the door and turned on the
electric light he said:
well, Mary Lane and Catherine
Simmer, good evening. What brings
you here? Some trouble in the So
dality? | hope if is no sick call -
mo, Father" said Mary Lane, we
just wanted to ask a few questions on
something important"
Il suppose you want to know what
convent you should enter" said Fa-
Their Flynn teasingly, after he had Of
fered chairs to his two officers Of the
Young Ladies Sodality.
No, Father" replied Mary. q read
lately in the Messenger something
about the Heroic Act for the souls in
purgatory. 1t said now that we APP
proach the month of the Poor Souls it
would be proper to make the Heroic
Act, but it did not explain what was
meant by the Heroic Act, nor how it
is made"
But, Mary, | thought you knew all
about such things When | took you
to First Communion about a dozen
years ago you were one of my best
pupils, and | remember distinctly that
then | explained the Heroic Act to
YOU children.
Thank you, Father, for the unde-
served compliment; but l must con-
fess that though l remember you
spoke about the Heroic Act it was not
quite clear to me, though l made it
at the time, as you told us to do.
And what is worse, | forgot some of
the things you told us then"
Il suppose it is no rash Judgment
to say that you forgot few other
things besides the Heroic Act. | do
not say this to blame you, for l know
we are all forgetful, as l know from
experience. But what is the matter
with you, Catherine Simmer? You
never say a word. Does the double
office of secretary-treaSurer of the So
dality weigh so heavily on you? Or
does the care of all the money in the
COuCllJy DolAAC1 Sou. LII
that case l can easily Tighten your
burden. Perhaps you can enlighten
us in this matter
NO, Father, it is not care that
keeps me silent, but | would rather
let Mary do the talking: besides she
is the president of the Sodality. AS
to the Heroic Act | only remember
that it is an offering made to the
Poor Souls of all our good works,
keeping nothing for ourselves
But, Father" interposed Mary, IF
we give all to the Poor Souls where
do we come in? When We come to
die we have nothing for ourselves
Catherine is partly right. Before
l answer your question, Mary, let me
ask you another What do we merit
or earn by every good work We per-
form in the state of grace?''
More merit for which we receive
a greater reward in heaven"
rs that all. Catherine, can you tell
us another benefit
Il think" said Catherine with some
hesitation, I'VE also get the remis-
sion of temporal punishment which
we deserve for our sins
That is correct, Catherine Now
if we unite the answers of both of
you, we get the correct answer: By
every good work we get an increase
of sanctifying grace and merit; for
which we are rewarded in heaven,
and satisfaction for our temporal pun
ishment With this distinction Mary,
| can now answer your objection.
The meritorious part of our good
work we can give away no more than
you can give your face away; but the
satisfactory part we can give away
and do give away by the Heroic Act.
Do you understand this?''
yes, Father" answered both girls.
But Mary added: But, Father, for
all that, will we not have to suffer for
a long time in purgatory if we give
away all the satisfactory part of our
good works and all our indulgences?
We will have an awful debt at the
hour of DEATH
well, Mary, do you remember the
wording of one of the Eight Beati-
tudes saying something about mercy?'
Blessed are the merciful, for they
shall obtain mercy
Excuse me, Father" said Gather
inc, IF | quote another text in this
connection, which you frequently
quote when urging us to perform
good works: With what measure you
mete out, it shall be measured to you
again"
Very good, Catherine That text
is also taken from the Sermon on the
Mount, as we'll as Mary's. Now, Mary,
do you think that the good God will
let us suffer longer in purgatory be-
cause we have been merciful?'
1"No, Father But how are we go
ing to get rid of the temporal pun
ishment?" (.
Just according to the two texts you
SO readily quoted. AS thousands of
Masses, indulgences and ALI kinds of
good works are offered for the Poor
Souls every day, God will no doubt
let us have a great share in them
when we are in 'purgatory, if on earth
we have been good to the Poor Souls,
even though by the Heroic Act we
give away also all the suffrages, that
is, Masses and prayers, ETC., that shall
hn nff IN ne offer death