Sixth Day
The Church is the mystical body of Jesus Christ, of which He is the Head, and all the faithful are the members. It is divided into three parts: the Church Militant on earth, consisting of the faithful who are still fighting for their faith and struggling for their salvation; the Church Triumphant, consisting of the saints in heaven; and finally, the Church Suffering, consisting of the souls in purgatory. All the dead, then, who die in the Lord, belong to the great mysterious body of Christ, either as members glorified already, or as still awaiting the glory to come. But all are united among themselves and form one great communion of saints. Therefore when we consider what faith teaches us concerning the Church Suffering, or purgatory, we cannot help exclaiming: “O faith! how beautiful thou art! How touching is the communion of saints!” We children of the Church Militant stretch forth one hand towards our brethren of the Church Triumphant for help and protection; and with the other extended we supplicate by our prayers, our alms, and patient sufferings, that the time of probation for our brethren of the Church Suffering may be shortened. We feel they entreat us to alleviate their torments, and their gratitude for our good services will incline them to help us in our infirmities and weakness. How often does this thought occupy our attention? It should engage us frequently. As we are now so once were the souls in purgatory; as they are now so we hope to be—for once in purgatory it means that heaven is within our reach.
Prayer.
Release, O Lord, etc., etc.