deceased reappeared, freed from his ulcers, his countenance radiant, and testifying his gratitude for the charitable succour he had received from his brethren. If such is the chastisement of idle words, what will be that of words more culpable?
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Matter of Expiation — Failure hi matters of Justice — Father d'Espinoza and the Payments — Blessed Margaret of Cortona and the Assassinated Merchants.
A multitude of revelations show us that God chastises with implacable rigour all sins contrary to Justice and Charity; and in matters of Justice He seems to exact that reparation be made before the penalty is remitted; as in the Church Militant her ministers must exact restitution in order to remit the guilt, according to the axiom, Without restitution no remission.
Father P. Rossignoli [1] speaks of a Religious of his Order, named Augustin d'Espinoza, whose saintly life was but one act of devotion to the souls in Purgatory. A rich man who went to him to confession, having died without having sufficiently regulated his affairs, appeared to him, and asked him first if he knew him.
"Certainly, replied the Father; "I administered the Sacrament of Penance to you a few days before your death." "You must know, then," added the soul, "that I come to you by a special grace of God, to conjure you to appease His Justice, and to do for me that which I can no longer do for myself. Follow me."
The Father first went to see his Superior, to tell him
- ↑ Merv., 92.
