Some uncharitable persons may even suspect, that the appalling histories which Bellarmine has given us, of Saints Christina and Ludgardis, and other similar statements of the pains of Purgatory, accompanied as they all are with intimations of the benefit to be derived from the pious offices of the living, were originally designed to promote this holy traffic. In truth, how could the perishable goods of this world be better employed, than in purchasing these inestimable benefits beyond the grave? and what surviving relative could begrudge a curtailed inheritance, on such ample terms of benefit to the deceased? "Let us hear," then, "the conclusion "of the whole matter." "How hardly shall he, "who trusts in riches, enter into the kingdom "of God," says the gospel of Christ Jesus. "How hardly shall he, who trusts in riches, "be kept out of the kingdom of God!" says the gospel of the Church of Rome.* If it be

* For writing this I doubtless shall be charged with much illiberality. I cannot help it. After my critics shall have vented their indignation on me, I commend to their attention a passage from an "Encyclical Letter" of the present Pope, Leo XII. to the Patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishops, of his Church, recently published, with an Address "to all the faith"ful clergy and people" in Ireland, subscribed by all the Roman-Catholic Archbishops, and Bishops, in that country.

one of the high distinctions of the former, that to the poor the gospel is preached, it may be not less the appropriate boast of the latter, that by it the case of the rich has been no less

66

66

In that address this Encyclical Letter, from which I am about to give an extract, is pronounced to be "replete with truth and wisdom;" that on receiving it the subscribing Prelates " at once recognized the voice of him, for whom our Redeemer prayed that his faith might not fail, and to whose ardent charity he entrusted the care of his entire flock. We ex"claimed, therefore," they continue," with the Bishops of the "Catholic Church formerly assembled at Chalcedon, Peter has "spoken by Leo:" In plain English that this Encyclical Letter breathes the true spirit of your Church. With this very satisfactory comment, I now produce my extract :

"The wickedness of our foes has proceeded so far, that in " addition to a deluge of pernicious books, hostile to religion, they endeavour to employ to its detriment the Sacred Scriptures, which were given to us by God for its support.

"You are aware, venerable brethren, that a society, com"monly called the Bible Society, strolls with effrontery "throughout the world: which Society, contemning the tra"ditions of the Holy Fathers, and contrary to the well known "decree of the Council of Trent, labours with all its might, "and by every means, to translate-or rather to pervert-the "Holy Bible into the vulgar languages of every nation; from "which proceeding, it is greatly to be feared that what is as"certained to have happened as to some passages, may also that, by a perverse turned into a human

66 6

occur with regard to others; to wit:

interpretation, the Gospel of Christ he

Gospel, or, what is still worse, into the Gospel of the Devil.'"

happily provided for. Charles II. had good reason for saying, that yours is the only religion for a gentleman.*

* It may be satisfactory to learn, that the poor in Ireland have lately had their piteous condition, in respect to posthumous suffering, taken into consideration, and societies are established for their relief, some of them chiefly supported by the weekly subscriptions of the poor themselves, who contribute according to their means, “5d. 23d. or 1d. per week." To the same fund the contributions of the more opulent and charitable are invited, "at the rate of 73d. 10d. or 1s. per week, given quarterly in advance, WHICh grand subscriptions will be faithfully

"6 REGISTERED AND TRANSMITTED FROM OUR BOOKS TO THE

BOOKS OF ETERNAL LIFE, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE MORE "" AMPLE RECOMPENSE AND MORE GLORIOUS REWARDS." "When

a member dies, Masses will be immediately celebrated for the "eternal repose of the soul, according to the subSCRIPTION, on condition the deceased member has given at least a year's subscription and be a subscriber at death."

66

This is an extract of a paper pretty widely circulated in Dublin, and printed by J. Coyne, under the title "J. M. J." (i. e. Jesus, Mary, Joseph.) "Plan of a charitable Institution." The objects of this society are several.

Others are more strictly confined to the relief of souls in Purgatory, and are entitled " Purgatorian Societies;" one of them instituted March 29, 1806, and held at the Evening Free School, No. 43, Meath Street.

'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the "Holy Ghost." Among the rules of this society are the following; "R. 2. That every well-disposed Catholic wishing to " contribute to the relief of the suffering souls in Purgatory shall

pay 1d. per week, which shall be appropriated to the pro

curing of masses to be offered up for the repose of the souls " of the deceased parents, relations, and friends of all the "subscribers to the institution in particular, and the faithful

66

departed in general." "R. 6. Each subscriber shall be "entitled to an office at the time of their death, another at the expiration of a month, and one at the end of twelve months "after their decease, also the benefit of masses which shall be procured to be offered by the money arising from subscrip❝tions, and which shall be extended to their parents, relations, " &c." "R. 7. Every member of the office for the dead, who serves the society in the capacity of Superior, shall at the time "of his death be entitled to the benefit of three masses, Rector, &c. two masses, and every subscriber without dis"tinction shall be entitled to one mass, if he be six months a subscriber, and be clear of all dues at the time of his depar"ture."

66

86

There is another similar society, UNDER THe patronage of ST. JOSEPH, of which the Rev. R. J. O'Hanson is President.

In the recent examination of Dr. Doyle, before the Committee of the House of Lords, the existence of these Societies was not denied by him. The following are the questions proposed to Dr. Doyle on this subject, and his answers. Report of Evidence, page 397.

Q. Are there any Purgatorian Societies in Dublin?

A. I am unacquainted with those Societies.

Q. They are not countenanced among the Bishops?

See

A. I am not acquainted with them at all; there may be various things countenanced by poor tradesmen in Dublin, of which I know nothing.

LETTER VIII.

Indulgences.

WE have not yet completed the catalogue of expedients for the comforts of those who can afford to pay for them. The subject of this letter presents us with a whole storehouse of mercies at the disposal of the Church. But before I advert to them, I must beg leave to pay a little attention to yourself and Dr. Milner. It is remarkable that both of you exhibit an excessive shyness in acknowledging the natural relation between the doctrine of

Purgatory and Indulgences. Mr. Southey* has, as might be expected, treated them in connection with each other, as parent and offspring. But you, professing to "take succes

sively into consideration the principal subjects "on which he criminates the Roman-Catholics "in his 10th chapter,"† make a most awkward separation between these two articles, and thrust in "Confession," between them. And yet, after all, when you come to talk about

Book of the Roman-Catholic Church, p. 99.