"I have walked on the waves of the sea." - Ecclus. 24:8"I have walked on the waves of the sea." - Ecclus. 24:8
There is an abode of expiatory suffering where the souls of the just lament far away from God, Whom they were only allowed to contemplate for a moment on their departure from this world, but to render the delay of their happiness still more insupportable.
What are the pains endured in this sorrowful region of Purgatory? The same as those of hell, if we except the damnation. The soul in Purgatory loves God, but feels that her faults disqualify her for consummate union with Him in Heaven; she rushes towards Him with irresistible impetuosity, then withdraws herself, through a just sentiment of her own unworthiness with a heart-rending, of which the bitterest griefs, separations, most overwhelming losses of this life, can furnish no idea. This is her first and most grievous torture - the pain of toss, the privation of God, which makes her in some measure to esteem as nought the pains of sense, though these surpass the most intolerable in this world. Because if she suffers, she is willing to suffer, and thus satisfy God's justice, Whose will in all things she loves and adores.
What is the matter of these incomparable torments? Faults which we regard as trivial, which pass unperceived in our superficial examens, duties omitted, negligence in the fulfillment of our obligations, sins confessed but not expiated, virtues and good works in which self-love had a share - sins slight only in our own eyes. For if a cup of cold water given in the name of Jesus Christ shall not remain unrewarded, neither shall the idle word be suffered to rest unatoned for. Even, to privileged souls, a momentary cooling in the love of God, Who has displayed Himself more clearly to them, merits expiation. In a word, wood, branches, straw, shall be tried in the fire, only gold shall be proof against it.
Wholly absorbed in the fleeting interests of this life, accustomed as we are to fonn our estimate of the things of eternity according to the low standard of those of time, we have not a sufficiently elevated idea of the purity of soul God requires in order to our union with Him, of the punishment our culpable omissions, our base ingratitude, merit. We think too lightly of Purgatory, and are heedless in shunning the faults there expiated: we do not sufficiently compassionate the souls detained there, nor are we zealous enough in affording them relief.
But these poor souls have one Advocate that never fails them, Mary, who, having loved her servants who were in the world, loves them to the end, after the example of her Divine Son. Not content with assisting at their last struggle, and frustrating the hopes of the enemy in this decisive battle, she, moreover, with the Angels, presents their souls at the tribunal of divine justice, dispelling their fears by her sweet presence, and it is she who succours and relieves them in Purgatory. "The more pitiable the condition of these souls, who are incapable of assisting themselves, the more zealous is Mary in love and solicitude towards them." Saint Bernardine of Sienna assures us that the Queen of Heaven exercises a certain sway over that prison in which divine justice purifies the spouses of Jesus Christ. He applies these words of Ecclesiasticus to the Blessed Virgin - "I have walked on the waves of the sea," comparing the pains of Purgatory to waves generally, because they are transient, and likening them to the "waves of the sea ," as they have its bitterness. Now Mary" descends into these gloomy depths, and walks on these most bitter waves to console her children and alleviate their sufferings. "See how it imports us to serve this great lady faithfully," says Novarinus, "seeing that she forgets not her clients when they are in flames; and though all the souls in Purgatory experience the aid of Mary, yet she assists in a special manner those among them who had been more devout to her during life."
Our Lady said to Saint Bridget - "I am the Mother of all the souls in Purgatory, inasmuch as not an hour passes but their sufferings are mitigated through my intercession. The sole name of Mary, when it echoes through this abode of pain, becomes a relief similar to that given to a sick person by the soothing words of consolation." The prayers of the Blessed Virgin for the suffering souls are as a dew descending on these flames and tempering their intolerable ardour.
To relieve her clients is but little; Mary even breaks their chains. We learn from a pious tradition, and Gerson has left it in writing, that, on the day of her glorious Assumption, "Purgatory was left empty." Novarinus confirms it. "Grave authors relate," he says, "that the Blessed Virgin, at her death, solicited and obtained of her Son the favour of leading in her train all the souls detained in that place of expiation." From that time "she has enjoyed the privilege of liberating her faithful servants from the pains of Purgatory," and through her merits "the sufferings of these souls are not alone alleviated, but are even abridged."
Saint Peter Damian tells us that a certain Marosia appearing after death to a person of her acquaintance, told her that, on the Feast of the Assumption, she had been released from Purgatory with such a number of other souls as exceeded the population of Rome. Saint Denis the Carthusian affirms that "Mary also descends into Purgatory on the solemn Feasts of the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ, attended by legions of Angels, and delivers a vast number of souls;" a deed of charity which happens on all her own Festivals, according to Novarinus.
Why not hope for the same favours and graces for ourselves, if we cherish a true devotion towards this Holy Mother? Who knows but she will do yet more for us, if she will not obtain that our souls may be so completely purified on earth that we may be permitted to enjoy the beatific vision without passing through Purgatory? This is what she did for Blessed Godfrey. "Go," said Mary to Brother Abondas, "and tell Brother Godfrey to advance in virtue; he shall then belong to my Son and me, and when his soul shall be separated from his body I will not suffer it to fall into Purgatory, but will receive it and myself present it to my Son."
Practice
If we desire to relieve the souls in Purgatory, let us endeavour to interest the Blessed Virgin in their favour by our prayers, above all by applying to them the many Indulgences which can be gained by the recital of the beads, by fervent Communions, &c. Mary is greatly pleased with those who form the intention to relieve in particular those souls that, during life, were remarkable for a more ardent devotion to this divine Mother. Whatever you shall have done to the least of her servants, that will she reckon as done to herself.
Aspiration
O Mary! what could I do worthy of you? Nevertheless, I have a firm trust that you will be mindful of me at the last day.
Example
We read in the Life of Sister Catherine of Saint Augustine that a woman named Mary lived in her vicinity, who from early youth had led a career of vice. Age brought no amendment, so that her fellow-citizens, tired of her excesses, determined to banish her to a grotto situated on the confines of their country. Here, her body wasted by a loathsome disease, which caused the flesh to drop off in pieces, she died in a short time, without Sacraments and deprived of all human aid. Such a death was deemed undeserving the honours of sepulture, consequently she was not interred in consecrated ground. Sister Catherine, who had the pious custom of specially recommending to God the souls of such of her acquaintance as passed out of this life, thought not of the old sinner, believing her damned, according to the general opinion. Four years had already elapsed since the death of this woman, when the servant of God, being in prayer one day, a soul from Purgatory appeared to her and said - "Sister Catherine, how unfortunate I am! You pray for all that die; my poor soul is the only one on whom you have no compassion."
"And who are you?" asked the servant of God.
"I am," replied the soul, "that poor Mary who died in the grotto."
"What! you saved!" exclaimed Catherine, in amazement.
"Yes, I am, through the commiseration of the Blessed Virgin," she answered. "In my last moments, abandoned by all, and seeing myself defiled with such multiplied crimes, I addressed myself to the Mother of God, and said to her from the bottom of my heart - O you, who art the refuge of the forsaken, have pity on me, who am abandoned by the whole world. You are my only hope; come to my assistance/ I did not pray in vain. Through her intercession I obtained grace to make an act of perfect contrition, and thus escaped hell. Our Lady, moreover, has procured the abridgment of my pains, divine justice making me suffer in intensity what otherwise I must have suffered in duration. A few Masses are all that is now required to deliver me from Purgatory; get them offered for me, and I promise that, once admitted into Heaven, I will not cease to supplicate God and His holy Mother for you."
Sister Catherine caused the Masses to be celebrated, and some days after she appeared to her anew, more brilliant than the sun, and, after many expressions of gratitude, said to her, "Heaven is at last open to me; I go there to sing the divine mercies, and be assured you shall not be forgotten."
Visit to the Blessed Sacrament
My portion for ever is God. - Psalm 72:26
O Jesus, You have put these beautiful words in the mouth of one of Your Prophets, and I dare to repeat after him, God is "my portion for ever." How glorious, how advantageous has destiny been to me! My soul, rejoice with exceeding great joy! You that nothing can satiate, nothing fulfil your desires, shall at length be satisfied; God will be your immense, your only Good. He will belong to you unveiled in Heaven. He is yours on earth, hidden in this Sacrament. Behold the wealth Avhich all can share with you, without the slightest diminution of its greatness; wealth of which none can deprive you. A blissful eternity is mine in this tabernacle; I can enjoy it in advance, can begin it in my exile. 1 have, then, nothing to envy the rich, the great, the happy of the world; nothing to deplore in the losses and disgraces that occur. I have my hidden God on the altar for riches, happiness, consolation. Without Him, of what value is all that ends with time?
Mary, you also are my portion for eternity, you on earth, you in Heaven with Jesus, "and I am rich enough, I desire nothing more."
- taken from The Month of May Consecrated to the Glory of the Mother of God, The Queen of Heaven