THE SUFFRAGIES
We can help the Blessed Souls, and even free them from purgatory, with prayers, indulgences, alms and other good works, and, above all, with the Holy Mass.
Suffrages are called the good works that are done in favor of the blessed Souls in purgatory.
Suffrages are only by way of supplication, which divine justice accepts to the extent that it sees fit.
For this reason a soul does not always obtain infallibly all the effects of the suffrages applied to it especially.
The Holy Church approves the repetition of suffrages for the same deceased.
Those who do not remember to relieve souls with suffrages do very badly.
Some only see to it that the burial is very sumptuous, and do little or nothing for the relief of the soul.
The dogma of suffrages is a cause of joy, not only for the rich, but also for the poor.
The rich do very well to order suffrages: they will greatly shorten the pains of purgatory.
The poor have a most tender mother, which is the Holy Church, who prays especially for them, who are her dearest children.
Devotion to the Blessed Souls in Purgatory is most useful, because it makes one practice many good works, causes great joy in heaven, and helps greatly to obtain the salvation of those who practice this devotion.
The vow of Animas consists in yielding forever in favor of the blessed Souls in purgatory, all the satisfactory part of our good works, and all the suffrages that others made for us after our death.
Let us, then, be very devoted to the blessed Souls in purgatory.
Let us try to help them, hearing Mass and receiving Holy Communion very often, even daily, if possible; let us pray the Holy Rosary, the Way of the Cross, etcetera.
This is a good and practical devotion, by which we will free many souls from purgatory and make them enter heaven.
CHILDREN'S LIMBO
125. Children's limbo is the place where the souls of those who die before the use of reason [up to the age of seven], go without baptism.
Those who die with original sin alone go to infant limbo.
He who dies before the use of reason without baptism, dies with original sin alone.
In limbo one suffers nothing; one enjoys natural happiness.
God did, therefore, a great benefit to those who are in limbo, giving them existence; he could have left them in nothingness, from where He took them.
Those who die after the use of reason go to heaven or hell, according as they have or have not fulfilled the law of God.
ARTICLE VIII
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
126. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is true God like the Father and the Son. (See what has been said in speaking of the Most Holy Trinity).
127. The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and upon the Church on the day of Pentecost, ten days after the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven.
Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to assist the Catholic Church and sanctify our souls.
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
He is called the Holy Spirit because He proceeds from the Father and the Son by spiration or love.
To the Holy Spirit is attributed especially the sanctification of souls and the direction of the Church.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are seven: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of God.
Wisdom, to know the things of God and to find pleasure in them.
Understanding, to understand the truths of the faith and to know how to act according to them.
Counsel, to choose promptly and decisively the good.
Fortitude, to fulfill our duties with courage.
Science, to know how to use created things and to direct them to God, their ultimate end.
Piety, to love God as a Father.
Fear of God, to fear offending God more than any other evil.
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are twelve: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Long-suffering, Meekness, Faith, Modesty, Continence and Chastity.
Charity is the love with which the good love God.
Joy, is the joy that causes the good to be friends of God.
Peace, is the tranquility and quietness of mind in which the good live.
Patience, is the resignation and pleasure with which the good conform to the will of God in any tribulation.
Benignity is the gentle manner in which the good treat everyone.
Goodness is the will and desire of the good to do as much good as possible for others.
Long-suffering is the great courage of the good, for all their trust is in God.
Meekness, is the equality of spirit with which the good suffer the insults, without being indignant.
Faith is the faithfulness with which the righteous believe all that God has revealed.
Modesty, is the care, modesty and delicacy with which the good proceed in all acts.
Continence, is the request that good have to repress the disordered passions.
Chastity is that inner purity which the good keep, abhorring dishonest things and running away from occasion.
How beautiful is the soul that has the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit!
The soul that is in God’s grace has them. In this soul the Holy Spirit has His special abode.