satisfaction in this world; that is the foundation-stone. This foundation once laid, we must employ the means enumerated above.
CHAPTER LVIII.
Means to avoid Purgatory — Great Devotion to the Blessed Virgin — Father Jerome Carvalho — St. Bridget — The Scapular of Mount Carmel.
A servant of God sums up these means, and reduces them to two, saying, "Let us cleanse our souis by water and by fire;" that is to say, by the water of tears, and by the fire of charity and good works. In fact, we may classify them all under these two exercises, and this is conformable to Holy Scripture, where we see that souls are cleansed from their stains, and purified like gold in the crucible. But since we must seek above everything to be practical, let us follow the method we have indicated, and which has been practised, with so much success, by the saints and by all fervent Christians.
In the first place, in order to obtain great purity of soul, and in consequence to have little reason to fear Purgatory, we must cherish a great devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary. This good Mother will so assist her dear children in cleansing their souls and in shortening their Purgatory, that they may live in the greatest confidence. She even desires that they should not trouble themselves on this subject, and that they should not allow themselves to be discouraged by excessive fear, as she herself deigned to declare to her servant, Jerome Carvalho, of whom we have already spoken. "Have confidence, my son" she said to him. "I am the Mother of Mercy for my dear children in
