God wishes it
"The dead shall not praise Thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell. But we that live, bless the Lord, from this time now and for ever." - Psalm 113:17
If Saint Teresa and others have declared they would suffer all the torments imaginable to procure one more degree of glory for God, what would they not do, what would they not suffer, for the deliverance of the souls detained in the purifying flames, since this would procure Him not only one but millions of degrees of exterior glory from the praises and blessings of His creatures? This glory, of which He is jealous, can be purchased by our good works, and applied to these virtuous souls for all eternity, because the elect unceasingly bless Him and praise His mercies. He loves these souls, and in return is loved by them. He desires to be united to them; His heart suffers at their sad exile and sorrowful separation from the Supreme Good; but Justice, which has its rights as well as Good- ness, detains them in prison till the last farthing is paid. He is a Father Who withholds Himself from the embraces of His son; Who, with severe countenance, forbids him to come in His presence as long as his fault is not repaired by tears and regrets. But what joy for this good Father, and how delightfully His tenderness is affected, if a friend, a mediator, interposing between the chastisement and the fault, comes to disarm His rigor, offers acceptable excuses, and reconciles Him with the child of His love! We are these friends, ihese mediators who can obtain pardon for the souls experiencing divine Justice. God does not ask better than to hear us. He willingly avails Himself of our prayers; He even invites us to urge, lo conjure Him and force pardon by the holy importunity of our pious supplications. Therefore, if we love God, we will not neglect so easy and sweet a way of contributing to His glory. We sometimes regret not being able to glorify God like those apostles who by their preaching gained souls and entire nations for Him. I invite yv)n to-day to the exercise of a new apostolate, not less glorious to God in certain respects, but not less fruitful for heaven. Behold! these desolate souls are a riglueous nation whom you need not struggle to convert, but to free from debt; not to give to the Church, but to establish in the possession of celestial happiness. You need not cross the seas, surmount the waves, study unknown languages: a prayer, an alms will suffice for this easy conquest. You will not have to fear for the final perseverance of your proselytes, as they are already settled in unchangeable bliss.
Zeal of Saint Francis Borgia
Saint Francis Borgia, formerly Duke of Candia, was greatly affected when thinking of the sufferings of the souls in Purgatory considering that these same victims of the justice of God were His spouses and would very soon enjoy His embrace. He sometimes spoke of experiencing extreme confusion upon interceding for the fauhful departed - he who had been so long instrumental in sending souls to hell: such was his humility. He saw the souls of his wife and daughter ascend to heaven, as well as that of Father Pierre Lefevre. The soul of Don Juan Henriquez, Marquis of Alcanize, his son-in-law, had been one of those who were indebted to him for the advancement of happiness, and came to testify gratitude. At the time of his sickness in Valladolid, the Marchioness was with the Saint at Toro. She requested him to offer the Divine Sacrifice for her husband. This he did, and on leaving the altar informed her that the Marquis had breathed his last as Mass commenced, and that, at its conclusion, he had the privilege of beholding the soul so dear to her in the enjoyment of eternal happiness.
Practice
Resolve to accompany the Holy Viaticum. There are numerous indulgences attached to this practice.
Prayer
O God! Who pardoneth sinners and loveth the salvation of man, we supplicate Thy mercy through the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, and of all the saints, to give eternal beatitude to our brothers, parents, and benefactors who are gone from this world, and in general to all the faithful departed, through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere.
- text taken from Month of the Dead by Father Celestin Cloquet, translated by a Sister of Mercy, with the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan, Archdiocese of New York, 18 October 1886