guilty! How justly have you deserved the pains of purgatory! Wherefore humbly ask pardon for what is past, and pray with the psalmist: "O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy indignation, nor chastise me in Thy wrath. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak." (Ps. vi. 1, 2.)
II. Our merciful Lord has afforded us many means in this world of satisfying for our sins, and escaping the pains of purgatory. Among these means are the reception of the sacraments, the celebration or hearing of Mass, a devout application of the indulgences of the Church; then fasting, alms, prayers, mortification, and at least patience in all kinds of sufferings. God will be easily satisfied in this life, and will be soon appeased by the poor services that we can render Him. But after our time of probation in this world is over, He will exact the whole debt of punishment, even "to the last farthing." (Matt. v. 26.) Hence be careful to do as much good as you can while you may. "Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good gift overpass thee." (Ecclus. xiv. 14.)
III. Among the best means of escaping entirely, or mitigating the pains of purgatory, is to pray frequently for the dead. This kind of charity and mercy for the helpless sufferers in purgatory is most acceptable to God. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy," says Jesus Christ. (Matt. v. 7.) He will Himself be merciful to those who are merciful to the souls in purgatory. Wherefore pray yourself and procure the prayers of others for them: for, "with what measure you have measured, it shall be measured to you again." (Matt. vii. 2.)
Note.— If some days remain before Advent, for which there are no meditations appointed, some of the more interesting subjects that have been already considered can be taken again.
