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Show NOVEMBER. (Written for the Intermountain Catholic Cath-olic by .J. F. R.) The month dedicated to the poor souls is at hand. What are our. dear readers going to do for those who, from their temporary prison cry out "have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends." Oh, the anguish of that, appeal! Unable to help themselves them-selves they cry aloud to those who in life they called father, mother, brother, sister, friend. Every cloud of sorrow is full of presence of Gcd. The darker the cloud the nearer the presence. The larger the cloud the more loving and penetrating the presence. Ever indeed does God respond to our earnest supplications, sup-plications, quickly does He answer every cry of anguish. For He knows what it is to mourn. He, too, stood at the grave of a friend and wept there tears of love. Now the same Heart that was pierced for you and for ma let fall on your bereavement this soothing sooth-ing invitation. "Come unto Me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Why should you go umu mm tyou may asK) wnen tne presence of God seems insufficient to fill up the aching void which death has left in our souls? Do you wish to know why you should go to Him? Because He holds our faithful departed- in His loving but chastising embrace. em-brace. The nearer We draw unto Him the nearer we draw unto. them. This sweet consoling truth you (unconsciously (uncon-sciously perhaps) recite every day When you say, "I believe in the communion com-munion of Saints." When the shades of night fall upon the earth, when the visible sun recedes from, the earthly horizon, there at times looms up on the horizon of the soul the soft twilight twi-light of the spirit land. And then with a face transfigured by inspiration, with eyes strangely dilated by a glimpsie of the great unseen world, we feel upon our lips the touch of unseen lips, we feel on our hands the pressure of unseen un-seen hands or feel upon our brow the' breath of some unseen presence until our frame quivers with emotion, conscious con-scious as it is of the embrace of our loving and beloved dead. Believe in the communion of Saints, commune with them in, the sweet twilight or prayer and if faithful to the Heart of Jesus' you will some day rejoice with them in the full daylight of eternity. It i3 j . ! not by expensive funerals, costly monuments, monu-ments, floral decorations and such that the holy souls in purgatory are comforted com-forted and assisted, but by the service of prayer, particularly by offering the Adorable Sacrifice of the Mass. Tha receiving of the Most Holy Eucharist for the repose of their souls, giving of alms, fasting and self-denial. A tender, loving Father will heed our appeal for those poor souls. Pray-earnestly Pray-earnestly ' for their release, offer "to God during November your nets of self denial for their release, for they are ivv-.uo iu lur eigiu ci joa ancj any i act of ours for them in their time of I need will be rewarded many-fold. We believe in the Communion of Saints, l?t us live up to our belief by practicing this beautiful devotion for our sufferir.s: brethren. St. Thomas tells us that prayer for the dead is more acceptable than prayer for the living, for the dead are in the greater need of it and cannot help themselves. Ch. how awful is the thought of purgatorythat pur-gatorythat realm of pain! There is no cry, no murmur, all is silent. A loving, lov-ing, patient longing for the Divine pres- tric un earnest appeal lor our prayers that is all. but the suffering we cannot understand. Devotion to the holy souls embraces all other devotions. It is an exercise of the love of Gcd, of the love of Mary, tor the souls in purgatory are her dearly dear-ly beloved chidlren for whose deliver- . ance she yearns, with more than a mother's love. St. Joseph also reaps a share of honor from this devotion, be- . ing the special patron of the dying and ' of the suffering souls. Let us then in our charity recite each day a Pater Ave and the De Profundis for the poor souls in purgatory. 1 Prayer. j My God, you have taken from me those very dear and near to me in this world. Vouchsafe yourself to supply the place of all in my regard and to replace them in- my heart; they deserved de-served my attachment; I was devoted to them, and I hoped to enjoy their love and assistance much longer. You have disposed otherwis-?. May your most holy will be accomplished. The great consolation which I have in their loss, is the hope that you have received , j . them into the bosom of your tender mercy, and that you will one day unite i j me to them. If a deficiency of satisfac- ! tion for their sins detain them in suf- re-ring, I offer you for their intention. , atLmT Pra-yers and good works, and j my re?,; Station; in the los i which I Jhave experienced: render this ! i resignation ocmplete and worthy of 1 you. Amen. ' i ' I . J |