Conclusion and exhortation to show this mercy to the departed. To avoid this severe sentence, my dear brethren, the surest means will be to help the souls in purgatory with charity and mercy, so that when we in turn shall be in need of help those souls who have been relieved by us may come to our assistance. Truly, so should each one of you think and resolve with me: [ have just reason to practise this charity, when 1 consider my past life and the many mortal and venial sins I have committed! What else have I to expect but a long and severe purgatory after my death, if that death by the divine mercy is to be a happy one? Holy souls and children of God in purgatory! I place great confidence in you! I will never forget you all the days of my life; not a day shall pass in which I shall not keep my promise of performing some work of devotion for you; thus when I am lying groaning in the place of torments and you are rejoicing in heaven, I shall be justified in sending forth my petition to you in the words of Joseph to his fellow-prisoner: “Only remember me, when it shall be well with thee, and do me this kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison.”[1] So shall I be able to say to you one day: Only remember me! holy, glorious souls, whom I relieved from suffering in purgatory! Ah, think now of me! do me this kindness, and speak to God a word in my favor, that I may soon be released out of this prison and be received with you into the eternal tabernacle, where we shall rejoice together and praise the goodness of God forever! Meanwhile I will still continue to pray: God grant you eternal rest. Amen.
On Mercy towards the Poor Souls in Purgatory, see several sermons in the first and fourth parts.
- ↑ Memento mei, cum bene tibi fuerit, ut suggeras Pharaoni ut educat me de isto carcere.—Gen. xl. 14.
