Mass Schedule of Rev. Fr. David Hewko

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Today’s Feast Day – November 27th

Holy Mass – 7:30 AM
Confessions / Rosary – 7:00 AM

Not long after France’s horrific Reign of Terror, in January of 1830, a young, twenty-three year old Catherine Labouré entered the hospice of the Daughters of Charity at Chatillon-sur-Seine. It was during these days that the Masonic government encouraged the travesty of daily sacrilege, all the while blasphemously committed in the name of liberté, egalité and fraternité – freedom, equality and brotherhood!

Even the body of Saint Genevieve, the Patroness of France, was desecrated. Saint Vincent de Paul’s body had been hidden, but four days after Sister Catherine’s entry into the Mother House at Rue de Bac in Paris, Saint Vincent’s remains were transferred back to his own church with a defiant and joyous procession.

Later that same year, Sister Catherine was blessed with the apparitions of Mary Immaculate to which we owe the Miraculous Medal. The first apparition came on the eve of the feast of Saint Vincent, July 19th. The mother superior had given each of the novices a piece of cloth from the holy founder’s surplice, in which Sister Catherine earnestly prayed to Saint Vincent that she might, with her own eyes, see the Mother of God.

That night, a beautiful child awoke her from her sleep, saying: “Sister Labouré, come to the chapel; the Blessed Virgin is waiting for you!” When Sister Catherine went to the chapel, she found it ablaze with lights as if prepared for Midnight Mass. Quietly, she knelt at the Communion rail, and suddenly heard the rustle of a silk dress. The Blessed Virgin, in a vision of glory, sat in a chair like that of Saint Anne’s.

Sister Catherine arose, then went over and knelt, resting her hands in the Virgin’s lap, and felt the Virgin’s arms around her, as she said: “God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world.” Then, a pained expression crossed the Blessed Virgin’s face:

“Come to the foot of the altar. Graces will be shed on all, great and little, especially upon those who seek them. Another community of sisters will join the Rue du Bac community. The community will become large; you will have the protection of God and Saint Vincent; I will always have my eyes upon you.” Then, like a fading shadow, Our Lady was gone!

Four months passed until our Blessed Lady returned to Rue du Bac. Here are Sister Catherine’s own words describing the apparition:

“On the 27th of November, 1830 …while making my meditation in profound silence …I seemed to hear on the right hand side of the sanctuary something like the rustling of a silk dress. Glancing in that direction, I perceived the Blessed Virgin standing near Saint Joseph’s picture. Her height was medium and her countenance, indescribably beautiful. She was dressed in a robe the color of the dawn, high-necked, with plain sleeves. Her head was covered with a white veil, which floated over her shoulders down to her feet. Her feet rested upon a globe, or rather one half of a globe, for that was all that could be seen. Her hands which were on a level with her waist, held in an easy manner another globe, a figure of the world. Her eyes were raised to Heaven, and her countenance beamed with light as she offered the globe to Our Lord. On her fingers were many rings, filled with jewels and precious stones, from which shining rays of light descended. As I was busy contemplating her, the Blessed Virgin fixed her eyes upon me, and a voice said in the depths of my heart:

‘ This orb which you see is the world, France in particular, and each person individually. I am praying for it and for everyone in the world. The rays which fall on this orb are the graces which I give to those who ask for them. But there are no rays from some of the stones. For many people fail to receive graces because they neglect to ask for them.‘

There now formed around the Blessed Virgin a frame rather oval in shape on which were written in letters of gold these words: ‘O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.’ Then a voice said to me:

‘Have a medal struck upon this model. All those who wear it, when it is blessed, will receive great graces especially if they wear it round the neck. Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be in a special manner under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.’

At the same instant, the oval frame seemed to turn around. Then I saw on the back of it the letter ‘M’, surmounted by a cross, with a crossbar beneath it, and under the monogram of the name of Mary, the Holy Hearts of Jesus and of His Mother; the first surrounded by a crown of thorns and the second trans-pierced by a sword. I was anxious to know what words must be placed on the reverse side of the medal; and after many prayers, one day in meditation, I seemed to hear a voice which said to me: ‘The ‘M’ with the Cross and the two Hearts tell enough.’” 

Encircling the sphere were twelve stars bordering the golden elliptical frame. Originally, it was named The Medal of the Immaculate Conception. The medal streamed from the presses by the millions, quickly overflowing France, and well into the world beyond. Not long after, there was an epidemic in France. The death rate soared and medical science was unable to cope with the crisis. People turned to the Sisters of Charity who gave them the Medal with the assurance that great graces would be showered upon all who would wear it with confidence.

After the first cures, people demanded it excitedly. So many favors, cures, and conversions were effected through its instrumentality that its name and doctrinal significance were lost in the clamor; it became known simply as The Miraculous Medal. 

This apparition was the Immaculata’s first official herald; and this Heaven-sent insignia ushered in what became known as the modern Age of Mary. It would prepare the world for the great declaration a quarter of a century later – when Pope Blessed Pius IX would declare the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception as an article of Faith and an essential element of Catholic belief.

On the last day of 1876, Sister Catherine passed to her eternal reward. For the forty-six years from the year of the apparitions until her death, only she and her confessor knew who it was to whom the famous Miraculous Medal was revealed. As the years passed by, Sister Catherine performed daily her mundane and very ordinary tasks of sewing and door keeping, unknown to the world around her, which was buzzing with the miraculous effects of the Medal. 

When Sister Catherine’s body was exhumed for beatification 57 years after her death in 1933, it was found as fresh as the day it was buried – completely incorrupt! In 1947, she was canonized by Pope Pius XII. The feast day of Saint Catherine Labouré is tomorrow, November 28th. Her incorrupt body can still be seen today at the Mother House of the Daughters of Charity in The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 140 Rue du Bac in Paris, France.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

On the Anniversary of today’s feast day, at the dawn of the Twentieth Century, in 1902, Marie-Julie Jahenny, a French Stigmatist, received a Church approved message from Our Lord which warned of a “new liturgy” that would one day be instituted:

“I give you a warning. The disciples who are not of My Gospel are now working hard to remake according to their ideas, and under the influence of the enemy of souls, a Mass that contains words which are odious in My sight. When the fatal hour arrives where the faith of my priest is put to the test, it will be these texts that will be celebrated, in this second period. The first period is the one of My Priesthood, existing since Me. The second is the one of the persecution, when the enemies of the Faith and of Holy Religion will impose their formulas in the book of the second celebration. These infamous spirits are those who crucified Me and are awaiting the kingdom of the new messiah. Many of My holy priests will refuse this book, sealed with the words of the abyss. Unfortunately, amongst them are those who will accept it.” –  The Breton Stigmatist by the ‘Marquis’ de la Franquerie

Saint Josaphat, Bishop & Martyr
Feast Day Today – November 14th

Josaphat Kuncewicz was born of noble Catholic parents at Vladimir in Volhynia. When a child, as he was listening to his mother telling him about the Passion of Christ, a dart issued form the image of Jesus crucified and wounded him in the heart. Set on fire with the love of God, he began to devote himself with such zeal to prayer and other works of piety, that he was the admiration and the model of his older companions. At the age of twenty he became a monk under the Rule of St. Basil, and made wonderful progress in evangelical perfection. He went barefoot, even in the severe winter of that country; he never ate meat, drank wine only when obliged by obedience, and wore a rough hair-shirt until his death. The flower of his chastity, which he had vowed in early youth to the Virgin Mother of God, he preserved unspotted. He soon became so renowned for virtue and learning, that in spite of his youth he was made superior of the monastery of Byten; soon afterwards he became Archimandrite of Vilna; and lastly, much against his will, but to the great joy of Catholics, he was chosen Archbishop of Polock.

In this dignity he relaxed nothing of his former manner of life; and had nothing so much at heart as the divine service and the salvation of the sheep entrusted to him. He energetically defended Catholic faith and unity, and labored to the utmost of his power to bring back schismatics and heretics to communion with the See of blessed Peter. The Sovereign Pontiff and the plenitude of his power he never ceased to defend, both by preaching, and by writings full of piety and learning, against the most shameless calumnies and errors of the wicked. He vindicated episcopal rights, and restored ecclesiastical possessions which had been seized by laymen. Incredible was the number of heretics he won back to the bosom of Mother Church; and the words of the Popes bear witness how greatly he promoted the union of the Greek and Latin churches. His revenues were entirely expended in restoring the beauty of God’s house, in building dwellings for consecrated virgins, and in other pious works. So bountiful was he to the poor that, on one occasion having nothing wherewith to supply the needs of a certain widow, he ordered his Omophorion or episcopal pallium to be pawned.

The great progress made by the Catholic faith so stirred up the hatred of wicked men against the soldier of Christ, that they determined to put him to death. He knew what was threatening him; and foretold it when preaching to the people. As he was making his pastoral visitation at Vitebsk, the murderers broke into his house, striking and wounding all whom they found. Josaphat meekly went to meet them, and accosted them kindly, saying: My little children, why do you strike my servants? If you have any complaint against me, here I am. Hereupon they rushed on him, overwhelmed him with blows, pierced him with their spears, and at length dispatched him with an axe and threw his body into the river. This took place on the twelfth of November 1623, in the forty-third year of his age. His body surrounded with a miraculous light was rescued from the waters. The martyr’s blood won a blessing first of all for his murderers; for, being condemned to death, they nearly all abjured their schism and repented of their crime. As the death of this great bishop was followed by many miracles, Pope Urban VIII granted him the honors of beatification. On the third of the Calends of July, 1867, when celebrating the centenary of the Princes of the Apostles, Pius IX in the Vatican basilica, in presence of the College of Cardinals, and of about five hundred Patriarchs, Metropolitans, and Bishops of every rite, assembled from all parts of the world, solemnly enrolled among the Saints this great defender of the Church’s unity, who was the first Oriental to be thus honored. Pope Leo XIII extended his Mass and Office to the universal Church. – From the Roman Breviary

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This Week’s Holy Mass Schedule

Today – Sunday, November 14th
Twenty-fifth Sunday After Pentecost
Saint Josaphat, Bishop & Martyr

Holy Mass Livestream from San Diego, CA – 12:30 PM EST
Find Link Here

Monday, November 15th
Saint Albert the Great, Bishop & Doctor

Tuesday, November 16th
Saint Gertrude, Virgin

Wednesday, November 17th
Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop & Confessor

Thursday, November 18th
Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul

Friday, November 19th
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Widow

Saturday, November 20th
Saint Felix of Valois, Confessor

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Sorrowful Heart of Mary Oratory Fund-Raiser
Invest in the Future of the Traditional Catholic Priesthood

“Operation Survival” 
See Details Here

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XXV Sunday After Pentecost
Mass of the VI Sunday After the Epiphany

I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world. – Matthew xiii:35

MASS

INTROIT

COLLECT

EPISTLE

The praise which the Apostle here gives to the Thessalonians for their fervor in the faith, they had embraced, conveys a reproach to the Christians of our own times. These neophytes of Thessalonica, who, a short time before, were worshippers of idols, had become so earnest in the practice of the Christian religion, that even the Apostle is filled with admiration. We are the descendants of countless Christian ancestors; we received our regeneration by Baptism at our first coming into the world; we were taught the doctrine of Jesus Christ from our earliest childhood; and yet, our faith is not as strong, or our lives as holy, as were those of the early Christians. Their main occupation was the serving the living and true God, and the waiting for the coming of their Saviour; our Hope is precisely the same as that which made their hearts so fervent; how comes it that our Faith is not like theirs in its generosity? We love this present life, as though we had not the firm conviction that it is to pass away.

As far as depends upon us, we are handing down to future generations a Christianity very different from that which our Saviour established, which the Apostles preached, and which the pagans of the first ages thought they were bound to purchase at any price or sacrifice.

GRADUAL

GOSPEL

Our Lord here teaches us, under the symbolism of two parables, what we are to believe concerning his Church, which is his Kingdom, – a Kingdom that rises indeed here on the earth, but is to be perfected in Heaven. What is this grain of mustard-seed, which is hid under ground, is unseen by man’s eye, then appears as the least of herbs, but, finally, becomes a tree? It is the Word of God, at first hidden in Judea, trampled on by man’s malice even so as to be buried in a tomb, but, at length, rising triumphantly and reaching rapidly to every part of the world. Scarcely had a hundred years elapsed since Jesus was put to death, and his Church was vigorous even far beyond the limits of the Roman Empire. During the past nineteen centuries, every possible effort has been made to up-root the Tree of God; persecution, diplomacy, human wisdom, – all have tried, and all have but wasted their time. True, – they succeeded, from time to time, in severing a branch; but another grew in its place, for the sap of the Tree is vigorous beyond measure. The birds that come and dwell upon it, are, as the Holy Fathers interpret it, the souls of men aspiring to the eternal goods of the better world. If we are worthy of our name of “Christians,” we shall love this Tree, and find our rest and safety no where but beneath its shade. – The Woman, of whom the second parable speaks, is the Church, our Mother. It was she that, from the commencement of Christianity, took the teaching of her Divine Master, and hid it in the very heart of men, making it the leaven of their salvation. The three measures of meal which she leavened into bread, are the three great families of mankind, the three that came from the children of Noah, who are the three fathers of the whole human race. Let us love this Mother of ours; and let us bless that heavenly leaven, which made us become children of God, by making us children of the Church.

OFFERTORY

SECRET

COMMUNION

POSTCOMMUNION

Dedication of the Archbasilica of Our Savior
Feast Day – Tuesday, November 9th

As the anniversary of the dedication of a cathedral is kept as a solemn festival in all the churches of a diocese, so the dedication of the Church of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral of the Supreme Pontiff, is everywhere celebrated. The first mention of the Lateran in ecclesiastical history is that of Optatus of Milevis who relates that a council against the Donatists was held within its walls. About this time Constantine gave to the Church of Rome the ancient Palace of the Laterani, part of the dowry of his wife, Fausta. From that time onwards the Lateran became the ordinary residence of the Popes, and may be regarded as a memorial of that long series of holy Pontiffs who inhabited it during the course of nearly ten centuries. Those walls, now nearly two thousand years old, have seen many important events in history and have figured in poetry and in art, whllst they sheltered a dynasty of Pontiffs who ruled longer than any dynasty of kings. Here, at the suggestion of Pope Sylvester, Constantine the Great transformed or constructed the first basilica dedicated to the Savior at Rome. In the Twelfth Century, on account of the baptistery, it was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and began to be called Saint John Lateran. In the early Middle Ages the Pope officiated, not at one church only, but in all the basilicas and titles within and without the city. On great solemnities and for ordinations and coronations, he officiated at Saint Peter’s. When the observance of the stations declined, the Lateran was ranked as the Papal residence, and the basilica was looked upon as a cathedral with regard to the other titular churches of the city. As papal cathedral and mother of all the churches, the Basilica of the Savior has been clothed with the dignity of a symbol of the Pontifical authority in the eyes of the Catholic world. The Liturgy has also concentrated in her ritual this belief held by the household of the faith, and Pope Saint Pius X raised the feast which we celebrate on November 9th to the same rank of a double of the second class for the entire Latin Church, as is held by the great feasts of the religious year. In this basilica and the Lantern Palace five ecumenical councils were held, besides twenty synods. The basilica, after its destruction, was rebuilt by Benedict XIII and consecrated on November 9th, 1726. Since that time the feast has been kept in the Universal Church. The dedication of a church is an important liturgical event. It is not the same thing to pray in private, or to pray in the sacred sanctuary and to take part in the rites of Catholic Liturgy. By reason of its consecration the Church is the throne of God’s mercy, the place chosen by Him, and where He chiefly condescends to work our salvation. Here we know He listens to our prayers; here Christ is pleased to receive from the assembly of believers that solemn, public, and united adoration which is due to Him. – The Roman Missal

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This Week’s Holy Mass Schedule

Today – Sunday, November 7th – 9:30 AM
XXIV Sunday After Pentecost
Within the Octave of All Saints

Today’s Holy Mass LiveStream from MA
Find Link Here

Wednesday, November 10th – 5:30 PM
Saint Andrew Avellino, Confessor

Thursday, November 11th – 7:30 AM
Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop & Confessor

Friday, November 12th – 7:30 AM
Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr

Confessions / Rosary – 30 Minutes Before Mass

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Sorrowful Heart of Mary Oratory Fund-Raiser
Invest in the Future of the Traditional Catholic Priesthood

“Operation Survival” 
See Details Here

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XXIV Sunday After Pentecost 
Mass of the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany

Preserve, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy family by thy constant mercy, that we who confide solely in the support of thy heavenly grace, may be always defended by thy protection. – Collect of the Mass

MASS

INTROIT

COLLECT

SECOND COLLECT

A third Collect is added, at the choice of the Priest.

EPISTLE

The Christian, – trained as he has been in the school of the Man-God, who deigned to dwell upon this earth, – should ever show mercy towards his fellow-men. This world, which has been purified by the presence of the Incarnate Word, would become an abode of Peace, if we were but to live in such manner as to merit the titles, given us by the Apostle, of elect of God, holy, and beloved. The Peace here spoken of should, first of all, fill the heart of every Christian, and give it an uninterrupted joy, which would be ever pouring itself forth in singing the praises of God. But it is mainly on the Sundays, that the Faithful, by taking part with the Church in her psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, fulfill this duty so dear to their hearts. Let us, moreover, in our every day life, practice the advice given us by the Apostle, – of doing all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in order that we may, in all things, find favor with our Heavenly Father.

GRADUAL

GOSPEL

The Kingdom of Heaven, here spoken of by our Lord, is the Church Militant,- the society of them that believe in him. And yet, the field he has tilled with so much care is over-sowed with cockle; heresies have crept in, scandals have abounded; are we, on that account, to have misgivings about the foresight of the Master, who knows all things, and without whose permission nothing happens? Far from us be such a thought! He himself tells us that these things must needs be. Man has been gifted with free-will; it is for him to choose between good and evil; but, God will turn all to his own greater glory. Heresies, then, like weeds in a field, may spring up in the Church; but the day must come when they will be uprooted; some of them will wither on the parent-stems, but the whole cockle shall be gathered into bundles to burn. Where are now the heresies that sprang up in the first ages of the Church? And in another hundred years, what will have become of the heresy, which, under the pretentious name of The Reformation, has caused incalculable evil? It is the same with the scandals which rise up within the pale of the Church; – they are a hard trial; but trials must come. The Divine Husbandman wills not that this cockle be torn up, lest the wheat should suffer injury. First of all, the mixture of good and bad is an advantage; it teaches the good not to put their hopes in man, but in God. Then too, the mercy of our Lord is so great, that at times the very cockle is converted, by Divine grace, into wheat. We must, therefore, have patience. But, whereas it is when the men are asleep that the enemy over-sows the field with cockle, it behooves us to pray for Pastors, and ask their Divine Master to bless them with that Vigilance, which is the primary condition of the flock being safe, and is so essential a quality in every Bishop, that his very name is, – one who watches.

OFFERTORY

SECRET

SECOND SECRET

A third Secret, at the choice of the Priest, is added.

COMMUNION

POSTCOMMUNION

SECOND POSTCOMMUNION.

The third Postcommunion is at the choice of the Priest.

All Souls Day 
Today – November 2nd

Requiem æternam dona eis Domine:
et lux perpetua luceat eis

Three (3) Consecutive Holy Masses Today – 5:00 PM
Confessions / Rosary – 30 Minutes Before Mass

On All Souls Day:
From Noon yesterday November 1st, until Midnight today November 2nd, a plenary indulgence applicable only to the Poor Souls is granted to those who visit any Catholic church or public oratory and recite the Our Father and the Apostles Creed.

On Each Day of the All Saints Octave – November 1st to November 8th:
A plenary indulgence applicable only to the Poor Souls is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray (even if only mentally) for the faithful departed during the octave of the feast of All Saints.

– Conditions for Indulgences –

+ Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.

+ It is necessary to be in the state of grace (at least by completion of the work).

+ Freedom from attachment to sin (even venial sin; meaning attachment to a particular sin, not sin in general; otherwise the indulgence is only partial).

+ Confession (8) eight days before or after the indulgenced act.

+ Holy Communion (8) eight days before or after the indulgenced act.

+ Prayers for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

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Instructions for All Souls Day
By Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine, 1871

 Read Here

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During this entire month, Holy Mother Church asks Her children to offer special prayer, sacrifice, fasting and almsgiving for the remission of debt incurred by the faithful departed whose sins have already been pardoned.

Our Lady of Fatima Chapel is accepting the names of the deceased throughout this month. These names are placed on the altar to be remembered at the commemoratio pro defunctis of every Holy Mass offered both here, and at each Sorrowful Heart of Mary mission, wherever the Holy Sacrifice is scheduled to be offered by the Apostolate, for the entire month of November. These names will also be prayed for during the recitation of our Chapel Rosary.

Please submit the names of the deceased to:

By Email:
ourladyofatimachapel@gmail.com
 
By Postal Mail:
Our Lady of Fatima Chapel
16 Dogwood Road South
Hubbardston, MA 01452
 

In charity, let us pray earnestly for the dead throughout November. There are so many great graces available if we only take advantage of the opportunity to relieve the suffering souls; especially in this time of crisis when prayers for the deceased have greatly diminished in number and in fervor. 

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The Duration of Purgatory

“It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead,
that they may be loosed from their sins.” – 2 Mach., xii. 46

Concerning the duration of Purgatory, the Church simply tells us that it is not a place of everlasting pain, but will end at the last judgment; neither are we informed of the length of time required for the purification of a soul.

According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, the soul, to be reunited to her Creator in Heaven, must be in the state of primitive innocence which adorned her when she proceeded from His hand. The image of God must be entirely restored within her, commensurate with the degree of glory awaiting her in Heaven.

From this it is evident that the suffering souls cannot enter Heaven until perfectly cleansed, either by their pains or by the suffrages of the faithful. They suffer until entirely purified, until the last farthing of their debt is paid. Increased and intensified pain will probably supply the want of time for the souls who will not have rendered full satisfaction before the last day.

Our Duty to Relieve the Holy Souls

In bestowing charity upon any person, we are usually guided by the degree of his poverty; but who is in such great need as he who possesses absolutely nothing, owes a heavy debt, is unable to labor or gain any merit; or even to beg, and must nevertheless suffer the most excruciating torments until the last farthing has been paid?

There is a universal law to assist the needy, which extends even to strangers; but here the obligation is greater, because among these souls in Purgatory are such as were intimately connected with us, who suffer perhaps, for having loved us excessively. Among the sufferers are our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends.

How exceedingly painful for them to be forgotten and deserted even by those whose happiness they promoted during their sojourn on earth; to see the possessions left to their children foolishly squandered, they themselves not receiving the benefit of the least farthing thereof. What proof of extreme coldness and ingratitude!

Were any of these persons afflicted with the least pain upon earth we would do all in our power to relieve them, but, as it is, we are devoid of all sympathy, and leave them in their terrible suffering and anguish.

 
The Special Duty of Children Towards Their Deceased Parents

“Honor thy father, and forget not the groanings of thy mother. Remember that hadst not been born but through them,and make a return to them; as they have done for thee.” – Eccl. vii. 29-30

Next to God, our parents are our greatest benefactors, entitled to our most tender love and gratitude, which is the sacred duty of every child. This duty does not end with this life; it is extended even to eternity. Should our departed parents find no relief in their pains? Must they cry out in bitter anguish: “I have reared sons and daughters, but they have forgotten me?”

If we compassionate the misery of strangers, if we do not heartlessly send a beggar from our doors, oh, let us remember how near and dear father and mother are to us, and how greatly we are indebted to them. After their death we owe them prayers, alms, good works, and especially Holy Masses.

They cry out to us for mercy. Would it not be the highest degree of ingratitude were we to forget those who bestowed their best love and care on us in life? God’s commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother is an obligation also towards our deceased parents.

Holy Mass & The Suffering Souls

The Sacrifice of the Mass is the great devotion of the Catholic Church, and, of all the means to assist the souls in Purgatory, none is more valuable or meritorious; for there, Jesus Christ offers Himself and His infinite merits to His Heavenly Father, by the hands of the priest, on behalf of the suffering souls.

The unbloody Sacrifice of the Mass does not essentially differ from the sacrifice of the cross, but only accidentally as to the mode of oblation, and no limit can be placed to the effect of this great sacrifice, which contains in itself all graces.

From this inestimable efficacy, however, we may not infer that the offering of one Mass is sufficient to release the souls we love; for, though the Sacrifice on Calvary was infinite, we cannot conclude that the application of it, through the Mass, must also be infinite.

Saint Thomas Aquinas tells us, it was not the intention of Jesus Christ to bestow the full efficacy of His suffering and death, which is celebrated in every Mass, upon us; His merits are applied according to His Adorable Will, for the ways of God are often inscrutable.

It is very salutary, therefore, to have the Holy Sacrifice offered frequently for the repose of a soul. Should the souls who are dear to us, for whom we intercede in this manner, be already in the enjoyment of eternal bliss, Divine Wisdom, in His goodness, will bestow the merit of the Masses offered on other suffering souls.

Saint Dominic declares that the redemption of the holy souls from Purgatory is one of the principal effects of the Rosary. The Venerable Alanus writes that many of the brethren had appeared to them whilst reciting the Rosary, and had declared that next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass there was no more powerful means than the Rosary to help the suffering souls. Also, the fact that numerous souls were daily released thereby, who would otherwise have been obliged to remain there for years. Saint Alphonsus Liguori teaches:

Let us pray the daily Rosary; most especially recommended by Holy Mother Church and which is so pleasing to our Blessed Mother; a practice which she constantly asked of us at Fatima. Not only does it disclose to us a rich source of graces, but it’s also very efficacious in relieving the suffering souls and opening Heaven to them.

Should our labor prevent us from reciting the entire Rosary every day, let us, at least, say it in part. This simple homage to the Queen of Heaven will draw down great blessings both upon us and the holy souls, who will be wonderfully consoled and relieved if this devotion is offered on their behalf.