The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"And248 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.for those who have died in venial sin, or who havenot satisfied the justice of God for sins already forgiven. She also teaches us that, although the soulsconsigned to this intermediate state, commonly calledPurgatory, cannot help themselves, they may boof the faithful on earth. Theaided by the suffragesexistence of Purgatory naturally implies the correlative dogma, the utility of praying for the dead ;for, the souls consigned to this middle state havenot reached the term of their journey. They arestill exiles from heaven, and are fit subjects fordivine clemency.Is it not strange that this cherished doctrineshould also be called in question by the levelling innovators of the sixteenth century, when we consider that it is clearly taught in the Old Testament ;that it is, at least, insinuated in the New Testament ;that it isunanimously proclaimed by the Fathers ofthe Church ;that it is embodied in all the ancientliturgies of the Oriental and the Western church;and that it is a doctrine alike consonant with ourreason, and eminently consoling to the human heart?1. It is a doctrine plainly contained in the OldTestament and piously practised by the Hebrewpeople. At the close of an engagement which JudasMachabeus had with the enemy, he ordered prayersand sacrifices to be offered up for his slain comrades.making a gathering, he sent twelve thousanddrachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to beoffered lor the sins of the dead, thinking well and