tion of his soul to that of her own body, her bodily suffering contributed to the happiness of her soul. Thus she always spoke of her sweet, her dear sufferings. And she was right, for these afflictions augmented the sweetness of grace in this life and the delights of glory in the next. She confided to me that long after his death her father Jacomo continually came to thank her for the happiness she had procured for him. He revealed many hidden things to her, warned her of the snares of the demon, and preserved her from all danger."
CHAPTER XLIV.
Motives and Incentives to Devotion towards the Holy Souls — St. John of God — Give Alms for your Own Sake — St. Bridget — Blessed Peter Lefevre.
We have just seen how holy and meritorious Charity towards the holy souls is before God — Sanda cogitatio. It remains to show how salutary, at the same time, it is for ourselves — Salubris cogitatio. If the excellence of the work in itself is so powerful an incentive, the precious advantages which we derive from it are no less a stimulus. They consist, on the one hand, of the graces which we receive in recompense for our generosity, and, on the other, of the Christian fervour with which this good work inspires us.
Blessed, said our Saviour, are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. [1] Blessed is he, says the Holy Ghost, that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day. [2] As long as you did it to one of these My brethren, you did it to Me. [3] The Lord deal
