The Heroic Vow
In favor of the souls in Purgatory, zeal, devotedness, charity, carried even to heroism, are agreeable to God and have the approbation of the Church. We will give the proof by translating the decree of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, promulgated after an audience with the Holy Father, 20 November 1854: "As it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins, the apostolic solicitude of the Roman Pontiffs has never failed to excite the faithful of the Ciiurch Militant in drawing from the treasures of the same Church Indulgences without number, especially applicable to the souls detained in Purgatory, by the recitation of certain prayers and by certain pious works, in order that they may be more promptly delivered from their expiatory flames and take their flight to join the inhabitants of heaven.
"To procure still greater relief for these souls, during the Pontificate of Bendict XIII a pious devotion, which is called a Vow or Oblation, was instituted, or at least propagated, in the Catholic world, by Father Gaspard Oliden, of the Congregation of the Theatines. It consists in this, that the Christians who embrace it make a voluntary offering, for the faithful departed, of all works of satisfaction they do in life, as well as of all those which shall be offered for them after death. The above-mentioned Pontiff, Benedict XIII, has granted to all those who make this oblation particular Indulgences, which, at the request of the General of the Theatines, Avere confirmed 12 December 1788, by Pope Pius VI; and in an audience 30 September 1852, the Sovereign Pontiff Pius IX, at the earnest entreaty of some ecclesiastics, not only confirmed them anew, but made the following declaration:
1. The Indult of a Privileged Altar, personally, every day in the year, to all priests who shall have made this offering.
2. All Christians who shall have made the oblation may gain a Plenary Indulgence, applicable only to the departed, whenever they go to holy Communion, and every Monday all who hear Mass in aid of the souls in Purgatory may gain the same, provided that, in both cases, they visit a church or public oratory and pray there for some time for the intention of His Holiness.
3. All Indulgences granted, or to be granted, which are gained by the laithful who have made this offering, may be applied to the holy souls in Purgatory.
For the greater relief of the souls plunged in the expiatory flames, this indult is extended to the Christians of the whole world who have made the Heroic Act.
Lastly, the Holy Father, Pope Pius IX, having in view the young who have not yet made their first Communion, as well as the sick, those who are afflicted with chronic disorders, the aged, farm-laborers, prisoners, and others who are debarred from Communion or are unable to hear Mass on Mondays, vouchsafed, by another decree of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, 20 November 1854, to declare that, for all the faithful who cannot hear Mass on Monday, the Mass heard on Sunday should be available for gaining the Indulgence mentioned in number 3 above; and that in favor of those who have not yet made their first Communion, or who are hindered from receiving holy Communion, he has left it to the will of their respective Ordinaries to authorize confessors to commute the works here enjoined.
And note, lastly, that, although this act of charity is called a vow in some printed sheets, in which also is given a formula for making the offering, no inference is to be drawn therefrom that this offering binds under sin; neither is it necessary to make use of the said formula; since, in order to share in the said Indulgences, no more is required than a heart felt act of the will.
Notwithstanding all things, however contrary, to be always of value, without any renewal of the brief.
Given at Rome in the Office of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences.
"E. Card. Asquini, Prefect.
&nbps; "A. Colombo, Secretary."
Example of the Heroic Vow
Without recalling Saint Francis Borgia, who practised this vow, read the Chronicles of Saint Dominic and you will find that a father of that Order offered to God all his good works for a person who was tempted to despair, and who died a few hours afterwards. He lost nothing while giving all his goods, because not many days had elapsed before; the deceased appeared to him clothed in very rich garments, and spoke to him in these terms: "My Father, your charitable offering is precious enough for both of us; I am gratefully obliged to you; it is a usury that is not criminal."
Davine did as much for his mother Petronilla, and Saint Gertrude for one of her religious whom she saw in Purgatory, which succeeded so well that she merited to be honored by a visit from our Lord, Who said to her: "You have pleased Me so much by this action that now I will carry you in My bosom as a mother carries her youngest child. You shall yet be uncovered as a glass of water if I do not cover you with My garments; and to recompense your charity, I desire hereafter to work conjointly with your heart."
Father Rossignoli relates that Saint Gertrude, on the point of death, grieved at having done nothing for herself and having entirely applied lier merits to the souls in Purgatory. Jesus appeared to her and said: ''Gertrude, be at rest; your charity towards the souls in Purgatory has been so agreeable to Me, that after death you will be exempt from Purgatory, and all the happy souls your prayers have delivered will accompany you to Paradise."
Prayer
My God, without imposing on myself any obligation under pain of sin, and as far as I lawfully can, with all my heart I make the promise and spontaneous vow of having the will to deliver from Purgatory all the souls that you wish to liberate. For this intention I place in the hands of Mary, that she may present them, united to the merits of her Son and to her own satisfaction, all the meritorious works performed by me during my sojourn on earth, and all the suffrages that will be made for me after death. Amen.
Praise be to Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.
- 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