from purgatory, but particularly those of her clients: by her prayers, and by applying her merits for them.'1 Novarinus says, that by the merits of Mary, not only are the pains of those souls lessened, but the time of their sufferings is shortened through her intercession.' She has only to ask, and all is done.

Saint Peter Damian relates, that a lady, named Marozia, appeared after her death to her godmother, and told her that on the feast of the Assumption, she, together with a multitude exceeding the population of Rome, had been delivered by Mary from purgatory.'s Denis the Carthusian says, 'that on the feasts of the Nativity and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Mary does the same thing; for on those days, accompanied by choirs of angels, she visits that prison, and delivers very many souls from their torments.'4 Novarinus says 'that he can easily believe that on all her own solemn feasts she delivers many souls from their sufferings.' 5

The promise made by our Blessed Lady to Pope John XXII is well known. She appeared to him, and ordered him to make known to all, that on the Saturday after their death she would deliver from purgatory all who wore the Carmelite scapular. This, as Father Crasset 6 relates, was proclaimed by the same Pontiff in a Bull, which was afterwards confirmed by Alexander V, Clement VII, Pius V, Gregory XIII, and Paul V; and this latter, in a Bull of the year 1612, says, 'that Christian people may piously believe that the Blessed Virgin will help them after death, by her continual intercession,

1 Ab iis tormentis liberat Beata Virgo, maxime devotos suos.-Serm, iii de Nom. Mar. a. 2, c. 3.

2 Crediderim... omnibus, qui in purgatricibus illis flammis purgarunt, Mariæ meritis, non solum leviores fuisse reditas illas poenas... sed et breviores contractioresque, adeo ut, cruciatuum tempus contractum Virginis ope illis sit.Umbr. Virg, Exc. lxxxvi.

3 Tom. ii, opusc. 34; Disp. de Var. App. et Mirac. cap. iii.

Beatissima Virgo singulis annis, in festivitate Nativitatis Christi, ad purgatorii loca cum multitudine angelorum descendit, et multas inde animas eripit. Etiam in nocte Dominicæ Resurrectionis, solet descendere ad purgatorium, pro eductione animarum.-S. Dion. Cart. Serm. ii de Assump. +

5 Facile autem crediderim, in Virginis honorem gaudiique cumulum, in quocumque Virginis festo, plures animas ab illis pœnis eximi.-Exc. lxxxvi. 6 Tom. ii, div. d. B. Virg. tr. 6, prat. 4.

her merits and special protection, and that on Saturdays, the day consecrated by the Church to her, she will, in a more particular manner, help the souls of the brethren of the confraternity of our Blessed Lady of Mount Carmel, who have departed this life in a state of grace, provided they have worn the habit, observed the chastity of their state, and recited her office: or, if they could not recite it, if they have observed the fasts of the church, and abstained from meat on all Wednesdays except Christmas-day! In the solemn office of our Blessed Lady of Mount Carmel, we read that it is piously believed that the Blessed Virgin comforts the brethren of this confraternity in purgatory with maternal love, and that by her intercession she soon delivers them, and takes them to heaven.1

to

Why should we not hope for the same graces and favours, if we are devout clients of this good Mother? And if we serve her with more special love, why can we not hope go to heaven immediately after death, without even going to purgatory? This really took place in the case of blessed Godfrey, to whom Mary sent the following message, by Brother Abondo: 'Tell Brother Godfrey to endeavour to advance rapidly in virtue, and thus he will belong to my Son and to me; and when his soul departs, I will not allow it to go to purgatory, but will take it and offer it to my Son.'2 And if we wish to relieve the holy souls in purgatory, let us do so by imploring the aid of our Blessed Lady in all our prayers, and especially by offering the Rosary for them, as that relieves them greatly, as we shall see in the following example.

EXAMPLE.

Father Eusebius Nierembergs says, that in a city of Aragon, there was a beautiful young lady of noble birth, named Alexandra, who was courted by two young men.

1 Materno plane affectu, dum igne purgatorii expiantur, solari, ac in coelestem patriam obtentu suo quantocius pie creditur efferre.-In festo S. Mar. de Mont. Carm. xvi Jul.

2 In libr. de Gest. Vir. ill. Sol. Villar. †

3 Troph. Marian. 1. iv, c. 29, t

Out of jealousy, they one day fought, and both were killed. Their enraged relatives, considering the young lady as the cause of this sad event, murdered her, cut off her head, and threw it into a well. Some days afterwards, Saint Dominic passing by the spot, and inspired by God, went to the well, and cried out, 'Alexandra, come forth.' In an instant the head of the murdered woman came up, and remained on the edge of the well, and entreated the Saint to hear her confession. The Saint did so, and in the presence of an immense concourse of people, drawn there by the wonderful event, gave her communion. He then commanded her to say for what reason she had received so great a grace. Alexandra replied, that when her head was cut off, she was in mortal sin; but that, on account of the Rosary she was in the habit of saying in her honour, the most Blessed Virgin had kept her alive. The animated head remained for two days on the edge of the well, so as to be seen by all, and after that the soul went to purgatory. A fortnight afterwards Alexandra appeared, beautiful and shining, like a star, to Saint Dominic, and said, that the Rosary, recited for the souls in purgatory, is one of the greatest reliefs that they meet with in their torments; and that, as soon as ever they get to heaven, they pray earnestly for those who have performed this devotion for them. As soon as she had said this, Saint Dominic saw her happy soul ascend, with the greatest joy, to the kingdom of the blessed.

PRAYER.

O Queen of Heaven and earth! O Mother of the Lord of the world! O Mary, of all creatures, the greatest, the most exalted, and the most amiable! it is true, that there are many in this world who neither know thee, nor love thee; but in heaven, there are many millions of angels, and blessed spirits, who love and praise thee continually. Even in this world, how many happy souls are there not, who burn with thy love, and live enamoured of thy goodness! Oh, that I also could love thee, O Lady, worthy of

all love. Oh that I could always remember to serve thee, to praise thee, to honour thee, and engage all to love thee. Thou hast attracted the love of God, whom, by thy beauty, thou hast, so to say, torn from the bosom of his Eternal Father, and engaged to become man, and be thy Son. And shall I, a poor worm of the earth, not be enamoured of thee? No, my most sweet Mother, I also will love thee much, and will do all that I can to make others love thee also. Accept then, O Mary, the desire that I have to love thee, and help me to execute it. I know how favourably thy lovers are looked upon by God. He, after His own glory, desires nothing more than thine, and to see thee honoured and loved by all. From thee, O Lady, do I expect all; through thee the remission of my sins, through thee perseverance. Thou must assist me at death, and deliver me from purgatory; and finally, thou must lead me to heaven. All this thy lovers hope from thee, and are not deceived. I, who love thee with so much affection, and above all other things, after God, hope for the same favours.

SECTION III.-Mary leads her Servants to Heaven.

Oh, what an evident mark of predestination have the servants of Mary! The holy church, for the consolation of her clients, puts into her mouth the words of Ecclesiasticus, "In all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord."1 Cardinal Hugo explains these words, and says, 'Blessed is he in whose house the most Holy Virgin finds repose." Mary, out of the love she bears to all, endeavours to excite in all devotion towards herself; many either do not admit it into their souls, or do not preserve it. But blessed is he that receives, and preserves it. "And I shall abide in the

1 In his omnibus requiem quæsivi, et in hæreditate Domini morabor.-Eccles, xxiv, 11. 2 Beatus in cujus domo requiem invenerit.-In Lib. Eccles. cap. xxiv.

inheritance of the Lord."

'That is,' adds the Cardinal,

' in those who are the inheritance of our Lord.' Devotion towards the Blessed Virgin remains in all who are the inheritance of our Lord: that is to say, in all who will praise him eternally in heaven. Mary continues speaking in the words of Ecclesiasticus: "He that made me rested in my tabernacle, and he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect."1 That is, my Creator has condescended to come and repose in my bosom, and His will is, that I should dwell in the hearts of all the elect (of whom Jacob was a figure, and who are the inheritance of the Blessed Virgin), and that devotion and confidence in me should take root in all the predestined. Oh, how many blessed souls are there now in heaven, who would never have been there had not Mary, by her powerful intercession, led them thither:-"I made that in the heavens there should rise light that never faileth." Cardinal Hugo, in his commentary on the above text of Ecclesiasticus, says, in the name of Mary, 'I have caused as many lights to shine eternally in heaven as I have clients;' and then he adds, 'There are many Saints in heaven through her intercession, who would never have been there but through her.' Saint Bonaventure says, 'that the gates of heaven will open to all who confide in the protection of Mary.'4 Hence, Saint Ephrem calls devotion to the Divine Mother, 'the unlocking of the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem.'5 The devout Blosius also, addressing our Blessed Lady, says, 'To thee, O Lady, are committed the keys and the treasures of the kingdom of heaven.' And therefore we ought constantly to pray to her, in the words of Saint Ambrose, Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise,

1 Qui creavit me requievit in tabernaculo meo; et dixit mihi: In Jacob inhabita, et in Israel hæreditare, et in electis meis mitte radices.-Eccles. xxiv, 12, 13. 2 Ego feci in coelis ut oriretur lumen indeficiens.-Eccles. xxiv, 6.

3 Multi... sancti sunt in cœlis intercessione ejus, qui nunquam ibi fuissent nisi per eam.-In Lib. Eccles. cap. xxiv.

Qui speraverit in illa, porta paradisi reserabitur ei.-In Ps. xc de B. M.V. 5 Portarum cœlestis paradisi reseramentum.-Orat. de Laud. Virg.

Tibi regni cœlestis claves thesaurique commissi sunt.-Parad. Au. P. ii,

cap. 4.