E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE MEMENTO FOR THE DEAD. 115
EXPLANATION OF THE MEMENTO FOR THE DEAD.
Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy servants, men and
women, N. and N., who are gone before us with the
sign of Faith, that is with the character of Baptism
on their soul, and sleep in the sleep of peace. Our
Lord s own name for death is sleep "the girl is not
dead, she sleeps." We too speak of cemetery, which
means the sleeping-place.
The priest in his private capacity may here pray for
any soul who has left this earth, even for such as
died in the very act of sin. At the last they may have
found mercy.
To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in
Christ, that is, who died in the grace of God free of
serious sin, grant, we beseech Thee (the Church
returns to her earnest and humble entreaty, we beseech
Thee) a place of refreshment refrigtrium, a cooling
from the heat of the fire and from the fever of
the agony of loss. The word indicates relief from
the double pain of sense and loss. Place of light,
that is Heaven, as Hell is the place of darkness. Place
of peace that is perfect peace. For there is peace in
Purgatory from the certainty of salvation, through
freedom from sin and from the love and sympathy of
the suffering souls. But the peace is imperfect in
Heaven only is there perfect rest and peace.