we consider that, in the midst of these sufferings, they can do nothing themselves either to mitigate their rigour or shorten their duration; and in their dire distress, they call out to us, saying night and day, "Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, for the hand of the Lord hath touched me." (Fob, xix. 21.) Moved, therefore, with compassion for these dear suffering souls, we do all we can to release them; we pray for them; we apply indulgences to them, and, above all, we offer for them the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. (See Guillet, Le Four de Morts, also Challoner's Meditations on all Souls.)

And in return what do these holy souls do for us? They can do themselves no service, but it is piously believed they can pray, and do pray, for us. At all events, when released from purgatory by our endeavours, they will not forget their benefactors. They will remember us before the throne of God, and when it comes to our turn to leave this world, O what petitions will they not offer to have us admitted into heaven at once, recollecting it was by our means the gates of heaven were so soon opened to them. O! how heart-moving this interchange of charitable offices, this "Communion of Saints" with the suffering souls in purgatory.

It remains only to consider the "Communion of Saints" as between ourselves here on earth. O what a thought! we are all fellow-members in Jesus Christ, and the charity of Jesus Christ animates us towards each other. Our Divine Saviour taught us how to pray, saying, "Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father, &c., &c. Give us this day our daily bread." Thus in this

divine prayer, on which all our other prayers are modelled, we are not allowed to address heaven for ourselves without including all our brethren in the Church. The same condition goes with our fasts, our alms, and other good works, so that as no member of the human body works for itself alone without communicating the benefit with the other members in the same way, &c., &c. (Quote 1 Cor. xii. 20, 21, 22-25.)

Speak on the religious communities throughout the Church, and, alluding to Sodom, which would have been spared were even ten just men within its walls, say what calamities are averted from towns, cities and countries by the prayers and good works of holy communities.

But it is specially in our public worship, and other public acts of devotion, that we make common cause with each other in heaven's blessings. If, according to His own most gracious promises, where two or three are assembled in His name, our Blessed Lord is in the midst of them, what must be the efficacy of our public acts of devotion, when in our hundreds, and our thousands we offer up our prayers, alms, and fasts, and other good works for each other? But above all and before all, we have a common property in the adorable Sacrifice of the Altar, that Sacrifice which is the same as that of the Cross, that Sacrifice of adoration, thanksgiving, propitiation, and impetration, that Sacrifice which offers more glory to God, and pleads more powerfully for man, than all the homages of angels and saints in heaven continued to all eternity. O! here indeed is our treasure, accessible to us all, in which we can enrich ourselves with the abundant

and superabundant merits of the Great Mediator of God and man, Christ Jesus.

4. I shall only say a word on the treasury of the Church and the common property we have in it. What is this treasury? To understand it, we are to consider that our Divine Redeemer did and suffered more for us, a thousand times more, than was necessary for our redemption. These superabundant merits exist always, and are confided to the Church. Also the Blessed Virgin Mary, and many of the Saints did more than was necessary for their salvation. Their superabundant merits unite with those of our Blessed Redeemer, and are likewise confided to the Church. Here, then, is an immense accumulation of merits at the disposal of the Church, which she dispenses to the faithful in the way of indulgences, to enable us to pay the debts we owe to the justice of God. We have a common property in this treasury, holding communion with each other in its riches and benefits.

[Some words of sentiment.]

CONCLUSION.

We have now some idea of the "Communion of Saints." O! what a happiness to belong to a church possessing such rich treasures for her children, &c., &c. Let us, therefore, with St. Paul, "draw near with a true heart and a fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with clean water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, and let us consider one another to provoke to charity and good

works; not forsaking our assembly, but comforting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching (Heb. x. 22, &c.); until we all meet into the Unity of Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. iv. 13, 14), the Head of that body, of which we are member of member, with our suffering brethren in purgatory, and our triumphant brethren in glory. Amen.

Consult Guillet's "Projets d'Instructions," Inst. xxxiii. ; Catechism of Council of Trent, on the article, Passage from Time to Eternity, ch. xxi. Butler's "Lives of Saints," Ist and 2nd Nov.

"I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, and the Communion of Saints.”

INTRODUCTION.

We have already devoted four discourses to the ninth Article of the Creed. We have reviewed it in both its branches, and under various aspects. We have considered especially that our Divine Lord did not establish several Churches, but only one Church, which, as St. Paul says, He hath purchased with His own blood," (Acts, xx. 28); that this one Church is the Catholic Church in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome; and that, as there is but one only Name, His own adorable Name, in which we can be saved, so it is only in this one Church, and as members of it, that this Name of salvation is to save us. We have, moreover, bestowed some reflections upon the supreme head, who, as successor to St. Peter, and Vicar of Jesus Christ, rules from Rome over this world-wide Institution. However, before taking leave of an Article of our holy faith, with which our eternal destiny is so specially bound up, it should appear just and natural to consider the happiness we possess in being members of the true Church of Christ, and heirs to the great and manifold blessings we enjoy by a