THE SOULS . . . . . . . . in PURGATORY : : : b y : : : JAMES J. DALY, S. J. T H E QUEEN'S WORK 3742 West Pine Boulevard ST. LOUIS, MO. Imprimi p o t e s t : Samuel H o r i n e , S. J. Praep. Prov. Missourianae Nihil o b s t a t : F. J. H o l w e c k Censor L i b r o r u m I m p r i m a t u r : »^Joannes J . Glennon Archiepiscopus Sti. Ludovici Sti. Ludovici, die 31 Martii, 1932 Third Edition, December 19)4 A N Y F I N A N C I A L P R O F I T made by the Centtal Office of the Sodality will be uied for the advancement of the Sodality movement and the cause of Catholic Action. Copyright 193 2 THE QUEEN'S WORK. Inc. Deackffffed THE SOULS IN PURGATORY By JAMES J . D A L Y , S. J . WH E N w e a r e s i t t i n g in a c h u r c h while t h e last r i t e s a r e g o i n g on o v e r t h e t e n a n t of t h e coffin n e a r t h e s a n c t u a r y , o u r t h o u g h t s o u g h t t o b e r u n n i n g f a s t . Y e t it is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e y a r e f r o z e n i n t o a h a r d , dull i n e r t i a . Big t h i n g s — m o u n t a i n s , t h e o c e a n , e t e r n i t y — s t u p e f y t h e m i n d , c r u s h it a n d o v e r w h e l m it. D e a t h is o n e of t h e b i g t h i n g s . I t is n o t t h e c o m m o n n e s s of d e a t h that h a s b l u n t e d t h e e d g e s of p e r c e p t i o n . Al- t h o u g h f e w t h i n g s in h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e a r e m o r e c o m m o n p l a c e t h a n d e a t h , w e h a v e n e v e r g o t u s e d t o it. E v e r y d e a t h a m o n g o u r r e l a t i v e s , o u r f r i e n d s , o r o u r a c q u a i n t - ances, e v e n t h o u g h it h a s b e e n e x p e c t e d , is a s u r p r i s e t h a t m o m e n t a r i l y s t r i k e s us m u t e . T h e g r e a t e s t s u r p r i s e .of all will p r o b a b l y b e o u r o w n d e a t h . D e a t h m a y b e a c o m m o n p l a c e of t h e race, b u t it is n o t a c o m m o n p l a c e of t h e individual m a n . My d e a t h will n o t m a t t e r in t h e least t o t h e w o r l d a t l a r g e . B u t t o m e it is a s u b j e c t t o w h i c h m y t h o u g h t s k e e p r e t u r n i n g ; and I a m d i m l y a w a r e of a p a c k of r e s t ' c s s f e a r s w h i c h will give t o n g u e w h e n D e a t h u n - l a t c h e s t h e f r o n t g a t e and c o m e s slowly u p t h e p a t h t o m y d o o r . — S — I h a v e been a c c u s t o m e d t o b r a c e myself t o meet new experiences by r e m e m b e r i n g t h a t o t h e r s have met t r i u m p h a n t l y t h e dif- ficulties and u n c e r t a i n t i e s t h a t c o n f r o n t e d me. But t h a t t h o u g h t will have no sus- taining power, it seems t o me, w h e n night h a s fallen and t h e ocean of e t e r n i t y lies a h e a d and t h e m o m e n t has come to p l u n g e into t h e s h a d o w y r e g i o n s b e y o n d t h e old familiar world of sense. Millions of m e n h a v e . a p p e a r e d b e f o r e their C r e a t o r a n d J u d g e , a n d g o n e t h r o u g h the o r d e a l of a divine sentencing, and been r e w a r d e d or punished. But t h a t fact b r e a t h e s no c o u r a g e i n t o m y soul, n o r t e m p t s m e t o set out on m y last j o u r n e y with j a u n t y airs. A D a y of Realities I . have called , t h e r e g i o n s b e y o n d life s h a d o w y . A q d s,o ;they are t o our un- spiritual sqnses.... But m y soul h a s been .whispering.to m e all m y life, and Christian faith, h a s been e a r n e s t l y t r y i n g t o c o n f i r m w h a t m y sojuI.whisp.ered, t h a t w h e n I shall leave this m o r t a l life I shall be leaving a world of s h a d o w s and d r e a m s t o enter a m o n g the g r e a t solid realities of existence. A n d I k n o w t h a t a day of realities, w h e t h e r pleasant or u n p l e a s a n t , is an entirely differ- ent t h i n g f r o m a night of d r e a m s and images. , . , '"•We all cherish t h e confident h o p e of go- ing, w i t h ' G o d ' s grace t o t h e w h i t e t h r o n g s . o f t h e Blessed? T h e t e a c h i n g of t h e Chorch is h a r d l y required t o > m a k e u s see t h e unfitness of immediate t r a n s l a t i o n into t h a t ' glorious b r o t h e r h o o d . If heaveh is w h a t w e firmly believe it to be, a land of h a p p y souls e n j o y i n g p e r f e c t i o n of in- tellect and will,- of instinct and impulse^ of ' m a n n e r s and habits and sweet experience, a •perfection beyond all h u m a n d r e a m s — if heaven is this,' h o w can m o r t a l m a n ; d e s i r è •to join its noble populace With t h e con- sciousness of his wilful deficiencies p r o t e s t - i n g its "embarrassaient and s h a m e in t h e presence of t h a t w h i t e h a p p i n e s s arid high mobility? ; T h e soul criés b u t f o r delâ& f o r pause;"for s o m e " c o n d i t i o n i n g " p r o c e s s t h a t will a c c u s t o m it t o t h e patrician u s a g e s and t u m u l t u o u s j o y . I n P u r i f y i n g P a i n W h a t , t h a t c o n d i t i o n i n g ^process will be we. c a n at t h e m o s t only v a g u e l y c o n j e c t u r e . T h e C h u r c h , w h o s e w o r d s : and a c c e n t s " a t e c o n t r o l l e d by t h e divine Spirit of T r u t h , tells u s t h a t it w i l l be a crucible o f - s u f f e r - ing. I t will be, t o c h a n g e t h e figure, a b i t t e r sea ; t o cross. But t h e land of leal is on t h e o t h e r side, and w e are c o n t e n t t o •be e n g u l f e d in p u r i f y i n g pain. Therè- is so m u c h to be washed1 a w a y ! A Catholic m a y h a v e led w h a t on all h a n d s w a s aalled a blaoieless life .enriched by. g o o d w o r k s ; b u t unlés&ihe is a g r e a t saint; h e p r o b a b l y can l o o k back r e m o r s e f u l l y o v e r : a r o a d s t r e w n . w i t h ' l i t t l e selfishnesses, w a s t e d o p p o r t u n i - ties;-^uncompleted 'tasks; ;adle w o r d s , i n d o - lences, small vanities, u n c o n t r o l l e d t e m p e r , impatience, shallow views, worldliness and laxities of one kind or a n o t h e r in t h e s h e p - h e r d i n g of his t h o u g h t s and desires. Unclean' P e r f e c t i o n and happiness g o t o g e t h e r . Nay, t h e y are, practically speaking, one and the s a m e thing. Even unalloyed n a t u r a l happiness would be an i n t o l e r a b l e experi- ence to an i m p e r f e c t m a n , j u s t as t h e sensa- tion of b r i g h t light could not be b o r n e by weak eyes. But w h e n we s p e a k of t h e happiness and perfection of heaven, we are speaking of a happiness and perfection of an u n u t t e r a b l y h i g h e r r a n g e t h a n a n y t h i n g within t h e c o m p a s s of h u m a n capacities in their natural state. If the o r g a n s of happi- ness m u s t be fortified by p e r f e c t i o n , n o t t o be shriveled by t h e i n t e n s e b r i g h t n e s s of a p e r f e c t l y h a p p y n a t u r a l experience, w h a t m u s t w e t h i n k of the p e r f e c t i o n of heavenly spirits m o v i n g f o r e v e r in t h e light of t h e Beatific Vision? H o w can I even so much as desire to enter into their c o m r a d e s h i p s t r a i g h t w a y out of this s m o k e and dust, these l a n g u o r s and morbidities, with the unlovely s t a i n s a n d a c c r e t i o n s of simple m o r t a l i t y thick u p o n m e ? T h e penalties of m y m a n y t r e a s o n s remain unpaid. T h e soiled v e s t u r e of i m p e r f e c t i o n clings to me. T h e dust and f a g s of m o r t a l i t y have weak- ened m y capacities f o r j o y . I should be blinded by t h e bliss a n d stricken with s h a m e by t h e high p e r f e c t i o n of t h e saints in glory. T o be u s h e r e d in a m o n g t h e m at — 8 — once would be agony, not delight. A n d to a p p e a r b e f o r e the unveiled Vision of Beauty and H o l i n e s s and Divine Love in all my f r a i l t y — t h a t is t o o painful t o be possible. F o r even in hell t h e r e m u s t be a limit in the degree, if not in the duration, of pain. D e p e n d e n t o n t h e Living W h i l e w e a r e here on e a r t h we can s h o r t e n and allay t h a t novitiate of pain which we see ahead and f e a r even when we welcome it as the vestibule of heaven. By p r a y e r s and g o o d deeds, m e r i t o r i o u s in t h e eyes of God, we can obtain remission of t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n due t o forgiven sins and clear o u r souls of venial faults. But a f t e r d e a t h t h a t p o w e r ceases. W e c a n n o t merit t h e n . W e have t o depend upon o t h e r s still a m o n g the livihg t o merit f o r us. Christ t h u s links H i s C h u r c h S u f f e r i n g with H i s C h u r c h Militant. T h e Church T r i u m p h a n t c o n t a i n s t h e t r e a s u r e s of m e r i t which the m e m b e r s of t h e Church Militant can draw upon and apply to the alleviation of the C h u r c h Suffering. T h e y are, all t h r e e churches, one Church of Christ in different s t a g e s of p e r f e c t i o n and h a p p i n e s s ; but all a r e b r o t h e r s , t h e living and the dead, in the c o m m u n i o n of saints and the b o n d s of charity. God is r e a d y to accept our prayers, sac- rifices, g o o d deeds, indulgences, penances, and trials in p a y m e n t f o r the d e b t s of the dead. A b o v e all, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Council of T r e n t , the souls detained in p u r g a t o r y a r e a i d e d " b y t h e a c c e p t a b l e sacrifice of t h e a l t a r . " ; St,- M o n i c a , h o l y w o m a n t h a t s h e w a s , a b o u t t o die, f e l t t h e n e e d of s u c c o r b e y ô i i d ^ t h e g r a v e . • " I c a r e n o t / ' s h e said t o A u g u s t i n e , " w h e r e m y b o d y will r e s t j b u t , m y s o n , r e m e m b e r m e à t ,,the a l t a r . " . T h e c o n s t a n t t e a c h i n g a n d t r a d i t i o n of t h e C h u r c h l a y s s t r e s s o n t h e g r e a t e f f i c a c y of t h e ma.ss t o c u r t a i l , t h e s u f f e r i n g of t h e s o u l s in p u r g a t o r y . H o l y M a s s T h e ijuiet a c c e p t a n c e of pain, t h e c o u r a g e t o c o n f r o n t crucial t r i a l s , t h e p a t i e n c e t o b e a r d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s a n d h u m i l i a t i o n s c h e e r f u l l y , o u t of a d e s i r e t o s u f f e r w i t h t h e s u f f e r i n g Ç h i i s t arid t o h e l p t h e s o u l s in p u r g a t o r y , g i v e s Us t h e fortitude s a i n t s a n d m u s t be p r e c i o u s r a n s o m f o r t h e r e - d e m p t i o n of t h e i m p r i s o n e d SO.uls.. But if w e h a r k e n to; 'thè C h u r c h , t h e . o f f e r i n g of t h e ' s a l i f i é e of t h e m a s s f o r t h é d ç a d ié still m ò r e pie.cìotìs. ' . A n y o n e c a n Have a m a s s said f o r t h e (ieaçi b y g o i n g t o t h e p a r i s h h o u s e a n d a r r a n g i n g f o r . i t ] w i t h a p r i e s t , A s t i p e n d , o r o f f e r i n g , u s u a l l y o n e d o l l a r , t h o u g h in n o s e n s e " p a y - m e n t f o r m a s s / ' m a k e s it a g r a v e o b l i g a - t i o n f o r t h e p r i e s t t o see t h a t t h e m a s s is o f f e r e d f o r t h e i n t e n t i o n of t h e p e r s o n m a k - i n g t h e o f f e r i n g . T h u s t h e s t i p e n d gives t h e p e t i t i o n e r f o r a m a s s ' C e r t a i n a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h e m a s s will be said f o r h i s i n t e n t i o n . A n y p r i e s t w h o a c c e p t s a s t i p e n d f o r a m a s s ' a n d b a i l s ' t o s a y it f o r t h e i n t e n t i o n of t h e d o n o f c o m m i t s a g r a v e sin. — 10 — «» i-j R i c h ' a n d P o o r Catholics w h o are so p o o r t h a t t h e y can- not find even t h e stipend f o r a maSs need n o t w o r r y , n o r conclude t h a t t h e ' r i c h en- j o y t h e a d v a n t a g e s of their wealth in t h e next w o r l d as well as in this. T h a t t h o u g h t would , do injustice t o Christ, w h o loved t h e p o o r, ' a n d to H i s Church, which, t h o u g h its m i n i s t e r s m a y s o m e t i m e s h e w o r l d l y and prSfed, is s t i l l / ' a s it h a s always been, t h e Church of t h e P o o r . W h a t e v e r t h e rule or u s a g e of t h e Church m a y b e in this m a t t e r or apy o t h e r , w e can be certain on o n e p o i n t : namely, t h a t t h e possession of m o n e y gives no u n d u e a d v a n t a g e s in t h e kingdom, of Çfirist. ; ; As a - m a t t e r of. f a c t t h e m o r e m a s s e s rich peoplechave o f f e r e d f o r t h e i r dead, t h e bet- t e r it will be f o r the souls w h o have no one on e a r t h t o h a v e masses said f o r t h e m . T h e mass, is said;, n o t only f o r o n e >or . t w b o r three«; but f o r t a l l - t h e sguls, of- JilfB; f a i t h f u l d e p a r t e d ; arid Christ is t h e d i s p e n s e r of re- lief t o t h e w a i t i n g s o u l s . - , ; ) Alas, it i s ' iist t h e rich «who c o m m o n l y a r r a n g e f o r m a s s e s for t h e dead; I t h i n k it is ttfue -that ' m o s t m a s s offerings; come f r o m t h e poor. T e r r e s t r i a l l o g i c and mathe- matics seem t o go a w r y in t h e ' spiritual w o r l d . * O n e would think, f o r ' i t r s t a n c e , t h a t t h é soul of a priest in p u r g a t o r y ' - w o u l d be especially faVor-ed on account* o f 1 , t h e largfe n u m b e r -éf' '¿faithful ' whoiri " h e had Helped during! l i f e ' a n d ; w h o w o u l d 'renremt>«rs *his need$ in t h e n e x t w o r l d , :; B u t a m i s s i o n a r y — 11 — priest o n c e said to me: " I have been fifteen y e a r s giving missions in all p a r t s of t h e c o u n t r y . I have received h u n d r e d s of stipends f o r masses, but n o t o n e f o r t h e soul of a p r i e s t . " T h e r e is a s t r a n g e de- lusion t h a t a g o o d priest does n o t need p r a y e r s either in this life or in t h e next. I t is a t r i b u t e t o his c h a r a c t e r ; but he pays dearly f o r it. Ruined C h a n t r i e s T h e Catholic sightseer in E n g l a n d is o f t e n saddened by t h e c h a n t r i e s in the great c a t h e d r a l s . T h e y w e r e built b y rich n o b l e m e n as s h r i n e s w h e r e a priest, sup- p o r t e d by t h e annual income of a g e n e r o u s f u n d , w a s t o s a y m a s s daily in p e r p e t u i t y f o r their souls. T h e R e f o r m a t i o n c a m e ; t h e m a s s was b a n i s h e d ; the f u n d s w e r e diverted t o o t h e r p u r p o s e s or confiscated, and t h e beautiful c h a n t r i e s w e r e t r a n s f o r m e d into pathetic ruins with d e s e c r a t e d a l t a r s . If wealth a n d place c a n n o t always e n s u r e provision in t h e spiritual w o r l d , w e get inklings n o w and t h e n of m y s t e r i o u s ways in which t h e m e r c y of God o p e r a t e s in f a v o r of H i s p o o r . " I w a s named," a priest once told me, " a f t e r m y m o t h e r ' s b r o t h e r . H e was her f a v o r i t e b r o t h e r . W h i l e she w a s a v e r y y o u n g girl in I r e l a n d , t h e b r o t h e r resolved t o challenge f o r t u n e in r e m o t e A u s t r a l i a . T h o s e w e r e u n s e t t l e d f r o n t i e r days in t h e a n t i p o d e s . My uncle w a s killed s h o r t l y a f t e r he landed. " L i f e w a s c h e a p on t h e f r o n t i e r s of civil- ization, and m y m o t h e r never heard details — 12 — of his death. T h e t h o u g h t of his n a m e l e s s g r a v e in a land of s t r a n g e r s b r o u g h t her, d o u b t l e s s , - m o m e n t s of sadness. She asked m e w h e n I became a priest to r e m e m b e r him always in m y masses. I have been s a y i n g m a s s n o w every m o r n i n g for t h i r t y y e a r s , and his n a m e has never been left out of a single m a s s . My uncle has been lying in his u n m a r k e d g r a v e t h e s e sixty or s e v e n t y y e a r s . I d o n ' t s u p p o s e his g r a v e in s o m e o b s c u r e c o r n e r of a c e m e t e r y is still to be seen. If it were, a passer-by might e n t e r t a i n a fleeting reflection on t h e p o o r u n k n o w n i m m i g r a n t lying t h e r e so long, with no f r i e n d t o say a p r a y e r f o r t h e r e p o s e of his soul. T h e s t r a n g e fact is t h a t he is p r o b a b l y r e m e m b e r e d o f t e n e r at t h e a l t a r t h a n t h e t e n a n t s of the m a r b l e m a u s o l e u m s which are t h e pride of t h e g r a v e y a r d . " Spiritual T r a g e d y W e do not all read p o e t r y , but e v e r y o n e h a s read s o m e t i m e in his life, g e n e r a l l y in his y o u t h , L o n g f e l l o w ' s s t o r y of Evangeline. W h a t e v e r else in t h a t sweet and simple n a r r a t i v e m a y have d r o p p e d o u t of o u r m e m o r y , we are s u r e t o r e m e m b e r the al- m o s t t o o painful p a s s a g e in which the lovers, s c o u r i n g t h e w e s t e r n wilderness in their eager and u n t i r i n g quest each f o r the o t h e r , a r e b r o u g h t within hailing distance and y e t . f a i l t o m e e t . T h e a r d e n t b o y w h o h a s been b r e a t h l e s s l y f o l l o w i n g the f o r t u n e s of E v a n g e l i n e w a n t s t o s h o u t t o her w h e r e she lies sleeping, a f t e r an a r d u o u s day. o n an island of the Mississippi while Gabriel is — 13 — p a d d l i n g down the river " b e h i n d a screen of p a l m e t t o s " u n d e r t h e very lee of t h e island. So t h e y miss each o t h e r . " A n g e l of God, was .there n o n e t o waken t h e s l u m b e r i n g m a i d e n ? " I t is; a s w e said, a l m b s t too painftil f o r t h e p u r p o s e s of art. T h é badness of missed o p p o r t u n i t y is tfte' m o s t p o i g n a n t in h u m a n experience. I t is also t h e m o s t c o m m o n . L i f e ï and l i t e r a t u r e a r e full of it. But if it is t h e p a t h o s of life, it must!'t>e t h e t r a g e d y of eternity. A s t h e d e w d r o p r e - fleet's t h é s t a r r y sky, t h e sad littlë Story of E v a n g e l i n e m u s t r e p r e s e n t on a diminutive scale t h e m o m e n t o u s spiritual t r a g e d i e s in- volved in " t h e l i t t l e less; and w h a t miles away I" ' F a i t h f u l t o D i m L i g h t s F o r instance. T h e r e are m a n y g o o d m e n „an.d w o m e n liying o u t s i d e j t h e visible pale of t h e Church in p e r f e c t g o o d faith, w h o s e spiritual dispositions m a k e t h e m dear t o God and w h o will be t h e , recipients, of H i s m e r c y and salvation. W i t h f e w e r helps t o sustain J,hem and g r e a t e r difficulties t o t r y t h e m , t h a n c(ppie, ,to us, t|\ey, are f a i t h f u l t o t h e i r dim, a n d .ojj^cured l i g h t s ; and, t h e u g h * W s i e a r c ^ i n e f o r t r u t h . .¡yj4 f r u s - t r i t , e , d ^ l w a y f . b y ; , t h e e n ^ n g l e m e t i ^ s of u n - ^ajypra^Le b i r,t h, ¡environment, . inherited Pj.ej.udiçe, andi jPther ciççumstances over whiclj t|iey; fiaye . no c o n t r o l , .t^ey ^¡11 dis- cpvejj, t,th,e t r u t h indeed by t h e g r a c e of Godi .but not in this w o r l d . T o o L a t e »"' I n h e a v e n of c o u r s e t h e y will b e i n c a p - able of r e g r e t . But, t h a t is p r e c i s e l y t h e m y s t e r y t o m y u n d e r s t a n d i n g . \ H o w c a n t h e s e s a v e d s o u l s l o o k b a c k q n t h e d r a b n e s s a n d d u l l n e s s of t h e i r life o n e a r t h , .with t h e t h r i l l i n g s p l e n d o r of G o d ' s C h u r c h ,al- w a y s w i t h i n ' ' e a s y reach, a n d n o t b e utt.erly o v e r w h e l m e d a n d u n d o n e by t h e deluge of s a d r e g r e t s ? H o w o f t e n a n d h o w n e a r t h e y p a s s e d by C h r i s t i n H i s t h o u s a n d t a b e r - n a c l e s w i t h a v e r t e d a n d alien f a c e s ! T h e y m i g h t ' h a v e a s s i s t e d at m a s s a n d w e l c o m e d H im, w h o m t h e i r h e a r t s w e r e h u n g e r i n g f o r , into t h e y e a r n i n g e m p t i n e s s o.f t h e i r b r e a s t s ; a n d s o m e t h i n 'veil of p r e j u d i c e , s o m e i n t e r p o s i n g Screen of c u s t o m , ex- c l u d e d ' t h e m like a d e s p o t i c wall of i r q t j f r o m t h e i r divine L o v e r . H e w a s t h e o b j e c t of t h e i r w e a r y j o u r n e y i n g s by n i g h t a n d day, a n d t h e y , ç'asséd H i m b y a h u n d r e d time's; u p o n t h e s t r e e t s . T h W f e l t t h e l o n e - liness of exiles' wfyën t;hreyrimight sp easily h a v e put t h e i r h a n d in 'His a n d g o n e c h e e r - f u l l y down: t h é ' roads.» ©f t h e ' Wbrld.E' v . L o s t O p p o r t u n i t i e s If ' t h e •' Sadness ! ' $ f ' r i g r e t t ô u i d be 1 ih" h e a v e n , such a r e t r o s p e c t of m i s s e d o p p o r - t u n i t i e s ' s h o u l d b e ' a f e r t i l e c a u s e of it. B u t a f a r m o r e f e r t i l e i;causié^ it s e e m s t o tne) s h o u l d 'be"the backvvàrd g a i e of t h o s e h a d been" b o r n , a s it" w e r e , ' iri t h e "G'hurèn a n d w h o w e r e a l w a y s o n l y listless a n d cold benefîcrariés of G o d ' s f a i r e s t b o u n t i e s . T h e i r f a i t h w a s à living f a i t h , it if t r u e , but o n l y — IS — half alive, paralyzed and sporadic. T h e dis- t r a c t i n g screens of t h e flesh a n d t h e world w e r e allowed, in a w e a k spirit of r e s i g n a - tion t o low aims a n d m e a n p e r f o r m a n c e , to keep t h e m a p a r t and a t distance f r o m t h e g r e a t spiritual realities. Christ w a s with them, k n o w n a n d recognized, inviting their c o m p a n i o n s h i p and intimacy, a n d t h e y re- mained, as a g e n e r a l rule, a l m o s t s t r a n g e r s t o H i m . A little m o r e effort, a little m o r e vigilance, a little m o r e v a l o r in t h e i r s t r u g g l e t h r o u g h t h e t h i c k e t s of n a t u r a l in- dolence and inclination, and t h e y w o u l d not have had t o reckon sadly so m a n y lost o p p o r t u n i t i e s whei} Christ came t o t h e i r d o o r and w e n t a w a y because t h e r e w a s no r o o m f o r H i m . If t h e y h a d p e r m i t t e d t h e s p l e n d o r of Christ t o illumine t h e i r life m o r e b r i g h t l y in patience and c h a r i t y and u n w o r l d l y living, t h e r e w o u l d have been less of t h a t invincible i g n o r a n c e which keeps so m a n y g o o d m e n and w o m e n in t h e cold a n d d a r k n e s s encircling t h e blessed precincts of God's Church. T h e C o m p a s s i o n a t e C h u r c h T h e r e g r e t of these g o o d m e n and w o m e n , if t h e y shall b e allowed t o experience it a t all, will be, as t h e m a t t e r p r e s e n t s itself t o me, small and slight beside t h e r e g r e t of Catholics w h o s e missed o p p o r t u n i t i e s im- plied carelessness and culpable neglect. P e r h a p s this r e g r e t will be t h e chief ele- m e n t in the p u r i f y i n g p r o c e s s e s of p u r g a - t o r y . R e g r e t s are b i t t e r t h i n g s t o live with. And the heedlessness which occasioned — 16 — t h e m will seem t o t a k e a s u m m a r y ven- geance b y visiting us with t h e sore con- sequences of b e i n g f o r g o t t e n by o t h e r s as heedless as o u r s e l v e s . If we shall have t o review a life of careless a c c e p t a n c e of t h e C h u r c h into which w e w e r e born, it is likely t h a t no side of o u r Catholic life will be m o r e conspicuously negligent t h a n the f r e e and easy w a y in which w e t o o k t h e d o c t r i n e of t h e value of p r a y e r s f o r the dead. I t is all but s t a r t l i n g t o n o t e t h e eager p r e o c c u p a t i o n of t h e Church Militant with h e r w o r k of relief f o r t h e m e m b e r s of t h e C h u r c h S u f f e r i n g w h o w e r e h e r children. She s e e m s t o e n j o y h e r uni6n and inter- c e s s o r y p o w e r w i t h t h e C h u r c h T r i u m p h a n t chiefly as a m e a n s of helping t h e souls of h e r dead to pass quickly t h r o u g h t h e fiery interval b e t w e e n e a r t h and heaven. She e n c o u r a g e s us by almost p r e p o s t e r o u s privileges and indulgences to ¿ay p r a y e r s a n d m a k e small sacrifices and p e r f o r m acts of virtue and t o receive t h e s a c r a m e n t s and t o a t t e n d m a s s e s and t o have m a s s e s said f o r t h e m w h o can help t h e m s e l v e s n o l o n g e r and m u s t now depend upon our c h a r i t y . A S t e r n M o m e n t E v e r y y e a r t h e Church sets aside an e n t i r e m o n t h , a m o n t h of clouds and winds and d r i f t i n g leaves, in which she concen- t r a t e s h e r habitual c o n c e r n i n t o a " d r i v e " in behalf of the s u f f e r i n g souls. She d r a p e s — 17 — her a l t a r s a n d ¡her m i n i s t e r s in H u m m i n g , and appeals to us, in t e a r f u l a c c e n t s f r o m in- n u m e r a b l e saiictuariesj and[ familial1. T h e saints apd aijgels; a r e w a i t i n g , f o r t h e i r de>- liv^rance. Our. ?B1 as s ed L a d y • J s , ^waiting f o r t h e m . . Christ is w a i t i n g f o r t h e m . But t h e p o w e r and privilege of curtailing t h e i r anguish a n d t h e i r d u r a n c e lie with us. By a m e r c i f u l p r o v i d e n c e w e can s w i n g back t h e g a t e s of their prison and cut t h e l e a s h e s which r e s t r a i n t h e m f r o m t h e f r e e d o m of the sons of God. O u r L o v e d O n e s A m o n g t h o s e w i s t f u l p e t i t i o n e r s f o r our b o u n t y are m a n y w h o m we knew a n d loved —souls t h a t b e a m e d affectionately u p o n us t h r o u g h e y e s which t h e dust h a s quenched, souls t h a t m i n i s t e r e d t o u s t h r o u g h h a n d s long since folded in peace, t h a t t e n d e d us and ran o u r e r r a n d s o n w e a r y f e e t n o w quiet f o r ever. Oh, m y loved ones! H o w can I t h i n k of t h e m w i t h o u t t e a r s ? T h e secluded g r a v e y a r d s of t h e w o r l d contain their ashes. T h e y hold close fellowship with t h e N o v e m b e r rains a n d t h e l o n g n i g h t s and t h e w i n t e r winds. H o w r e m o t e t h e y a r e ! And t h e y w e r e so close t o m e ! T h e y w e r e a p a r t of m e and I a p a r t of them. A w o r l d t h a t m e a n t to be k i n d t o o k m y h a n d a n d led m e away f r o m their graves, telling m e t h a t m y d u t y lay with t h e living, a n d b a d e m e d r y m y t e a r s a n d t o f o r g e t . Alas, I have l e a r n e d t h a t lesson but t o o well. I t is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e dear dead w h o loved m e a r e s u f f e r i n g f o r f a u l t s and in- fidelities which g r e w out of t h e i r v e r y love for me. If t h e y h a d loved m e less and God m o r e , t h e y w o u l d not have t o suffer - 19-^ now. T h e t h o u g h t would be too h a r r o w i n g but f o r one thing. T h e y are not beyond the reach of my affection. I need not sit helpless and u n c o m f o r t e d in m y r u e f u l n e s s . I can p u r s u e them, with f o n d a t t e n t i o n and g r a t e f u l r e t u r n s , into e t e r n i t y . God be t h a n k e d w h o has m a d e it possible t o make up f o r passionate t r e a s o n s and cold be- trayals t o w a r d s t h e living by loyalties to t h e dead! — 20 — W h y is T H E Q U E E N ' S W O R K The Magazine Which Socialists and Students Read? Beea use its articles Are crisp and modern Because its comment is up-to-the-minute Because it is filled with p r a c t i c a b l e plans and suggestions for sodalists Because it is d e v o t e d to students' spiritual a c t i v i t y Because it is the S O D A L I S T S ' and S T U D E N T S ' M A G A Z I N E Thousands of students in C a t h o l i c colleges and a c a d e m i e s ; thousands of sodalists in parishes read it DO YOU? 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