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Seventh means of relieving the souls in Purgatory – Indulgences 

– How precious they are –

Our sins are so serious and grievous, our reparations so slight, that we could not acquit the temporal debt of these sins in this world if the Church did not assist our weaknesses by opening up the treasure chest of indulgences.

This is an […]

Sixth means of relieving the souls in Purgatory: The Way of the Cross

– It is the Way to Heaven for the living –

This devotion, so great for the memories it awakens, so precious for the advantages it procures, is the most efficient means of conquering our passions and is the surest way of arriving at the summit of perfection. With every […]

Fifth means of relieving the souls in Purgatory: Suffering

– Voluntary suffering –

Let us relieve the souls in Purgatory, said St. Chrysostome; let us bring them relief through everything which grieves us; for God applies to the dead, the merits of the living. Suffering! It is the great atonement which the Lord asks of those indebted to His Justice; we suffer for […]

Fourth means of relieving the souls in Purgatory: The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

– It is offered by Jesus Christ –

Of all the means we have indicated so far for the relief of souls in Purgatory, none is as powerful, as efficient as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is a very consoling article of our faith. The reason for […]

Third means of comforting the souls in Purgatory: Holy Communion

– Sacramental communion –

When we have the joy of receiving communion, we become united to Jesus Christ in a manner so intimate that like the apostle, we can cry out, It is no longer I who live but Jesus Christ who lives in me. Our flesh becomes his flesh. His Heart makes […]

Second means of comforting the souls of Purgatory: Charity

– Corporal charity –

Charity is the virtue most often mentioned in the Gospels. St. Thomas maintains that its power of satisfaction is even greater than that of prayer. The angel said to Tobias, Charity saves one from death; it erases sins; it releases souls from darkness and brings them to God’s grace where […]

First means of comforting the souls in Purgatory: Prayer

– Simple means –

After having studied the reasons, which urge us to relieve the souls in Purgatory, let us now examine the most efficient means we have of assisting them. The first one is prayer; it is accessible to everyone, young or old, rich or poor. No one can invoke a reasonable excuse […]

Fourth Reason: The Gratitude of the Deceased

– In Purgatory –

Most theologians will agree that the suffering souls intercede for those who assist them even while they are in Purgatory. They can obtain nothing for themselves and their prayers are fruitless when they ask for their own torments to be abated. Such is not the case for the prayers they offer for […]

Third Reason: The Love of Our Lady

– She consoles the souls in Purgatory –

Mary does not limit herself to consoling and encouraging her dear children on earth. She is also the Consolation of those whom Divine Justice retains in Purgatory. What mother, seeing her child fall into a flaming pit, would not rush to her child’s rescue?

Would […]

Second Reason: The Love of Our Lord

– How He loves the souls in Purgatory –

Consider that Jesus has the same infinite love for the souls in Purgatory as He has for all the souls for whom He has shed His Blood. Everyone can say, He loves me and has died for me. If there are degrees to infinity, He must love […]