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Show DEVOTION TO THE DEAD. Ever since the light of the Gospel was brought to the Irish they have been remarkable for devotion devo-tion 1o the suffering souls. It is as if ihe missionary mission-ary spirit, which k so thoroughly developed in the race, impels men and women who are not able to go on ihe home or foreign niissions. to become, as it were, missionaries to that unknown, but much-thought-of realm of Purgatory. They need never leave iheir homes or their daily labor. Yet every day they can, by prayers, alms and masses follow in another direction the footsteps of the Irish missionaries, mis-sionaries, ancient and modern. Can there be a more beautiful deed than that of soothing and relieving re-lieving pain, especially pain far transcending the bitterest anguish in the world? Yet the very poorest poor-est may do this, bv an occasional indulgence, aspiration aspi-ration or prayer, by the recital of the Rosary, by 'patient endurance of trials and afflictions which like winged messengers can penetrate into Purgatory, Purga-tory, bringing relief to these dearly loved children of God. What mission can be easier, and at the same lime so compassionate? Father! Father! tell us that devotion to the dead, "does not rest in words i'.nd feelings, nor doi?s it mercly lead to action. It is action itself. It speaks and a deed is done; it j loves and a pain is lessened; it sacrifices and a soul is delivered. Xothing can be more solid. The royal devotion of the Church is the works" of mercy, and see how they are all satisfied in this devotion for the dead. It feeds the hungry, souls with Jesus, Je-sus, the Bread of Angels. It clothes the naked with the robe of glory. It visits the sick with mighty-powers mighty-powers to heal, .and at least it consoles them by the visit. It frees the. captives from a bondage worse than death. It takes in strangers; and heaven is the hospice into which it receives them. It buries the dead in the bosom of Jesus in cvclasting rest. The Western Watchman. |
