died at noon, and the fulfilment of one part of the prophecy gave great reason for belief in the accomplishment of the other.
Another day, having gone to hear the confession of a poor sick person whom he was accustomed to visit, he learned that she was dead. The parents were extremely afflicted, and he himself, who had not believed her to be so near her end, was inconsolable at the thought of not having been able to assist her in her last moments. He knelt down to pray by the corpse, then suddenly rising, with a serene countenance he said, " 'Such a death is more worthy of our envy than of our tears; this soul is condemned to Purgatory, but only for twenty four hours. Let us endeavour to shorten this time by the fervour of our prayers ."
Enough has been said on the duration of the pains. We see that they may be prolonged to an appalling degree; even the shortest, if we consider their severity, are long. Let us endeavour to shorten them for others and to mitigate them for ourselves, or better still to prevent them altogether.
Now we prevent them by removing the causes. What are the causes? What is the matter of expiation in Purgatory?
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Cause of Suffering — Matter of the Expiations of Purgatory — Doctrine of Suarez — St. Catherine of Genoa.
Why must souls thus suffer before being admitted to see the face of God? What is the matter, what is the subject of these expiations? What has the fire of Purgatory to purify, to consume in them? It is, say the doctors, the stains left by their sins.
