Mater Dei narrat sponse dignitatem suam et beneficia, que recipiunt ab ea vniuersi. Dicit eciam modum et suffragia, per que anima cuiusdam principis defuncti, pro quo ipsa sponsa orabat, liberari posset de horribili purgatorio; optimum documentum.
The Mother of Mercy
The Blessed Virgin Mary reveals her role as the Queen of heaven and the merciful advocate for those in purgatory.
"I am the Queen of heaven, I am the Mother of mercy, I am the joy of the just, and the way for sinners to God." There is no punishment in the fire of purgatory that, because of me, won't be made milder and easier to bear than it otherwise would be. No one is so cursed that, as long as they live, they're beyond the reach of my mercy, because for my sake they're tempted by demons less severely than they otherwise would be. No one is so far from God—unless they are utterly cursed—that if they call upon me, they won't return to God and find mercy. Because I am merciful and have received mercy from my Son, I want to show you how that departed friend of yours, for whom you are grieving, can be saved from the seven plagues that my Son told you about.
Remedies for the Departed
Specific acts of penance, almsgiving, and prayer are prescribed to address the sins of lust, gluttony, pride, and sloth.
First, he'll be saved from the fire he suffers for his lust if someone is willing to offer one woman in marriage for his soul, another to the religious life, and a third who can remain in widowhood, because he sinned gravely in his lust—even within marriage—by overstepping the bounds of his own marriage bed. Second, because he sinned in three ways through gluttony: first, by eating and drinking luxuriously and without measure; second, by preparing many dishes out of pride and for show; and third, by sitting at the table for too long and neglecting the work of God. So, if anyone wants to take in three poor people for a full year in honor of God—who is three in one—to make amends for this threefold gluttony, and provides them with the same quality of food he eats himself, he who gathers them will find relief. And he shouldn't eat himself until he has seen those three eat, so that through this small delay, that long wait your friend endured while sitting at the table might be undone. Furthermore, he should provide those three with enough clothing and bedding, as he sees they need and as is appropriate for them. Third, for the pride he had in so many ways, anyone who wishes to help should gather seven poor people each week for a year, on whatever day they choose, and humbly wash their feet, thinking to themselves in their heart while they wash them: “Lord Jesus Christ, who were captured by the Jews, have mercy on him!” Second: “Lord Jesus Christ, who were bound to the pillar, have mercy on him!” Third: “Lord Jesus Christ, who were judged innocent by the guilty, have mercy on him!” ; Fourth: 'Lord Jesus Christ, who were stripped of your own clothes and dressed in the clothes of mockery, have mercy on him!' Fifth: 'Lord Jesus Christ, who were scourged so severely that your ribs were visible and there was no soundness in you, have mercy on him!' ; Sixth: 'Lord Jesus Christ, who were struck and spat upon, have mercy on him!' Seventh: 'Lord Jesus Christ, who were stretched out upon the cross, whose hands, feet, and head were bloodied by thorns, whose eyes were filled with tears, and whose mouth and ears were filled with blood, have mercy on him!' . Once the poor have been washed, she should refresh them as best she can and in the way she sees will be most helpful to them, and she should humbly ask them to pray for that soul. Fourth, he sinned through sloth in three ways. First, he was slothful in going to church; second, in seeking indulgences; and third, in visiting the shrines of the saints. For the first point, anyone who is willing should go to church once a month for a year and have a Mass said for the dead for the sake of his soul. As for the second point, she should go as often as she conveniently can and wishes to—specifically for his soul—to places where indulgences are granted and where those who grant them listen to the more devout. Third, she should send her offering through someone faithful and upright to the principal saints in this kingdom of Sweden, where crowds of people are accustomed to gather out of devotion and for the sake of indulgences—such as Saint Eric, Blessed Sigfrid, and others like them. And you should faithfully reward the person who carries the offering for their labor. Fifth, because he sinned through vainglory and pleasure, let anyone who wishes gather all the poor who are in his household or neighborhood once a month for a year, bring them together in one place, and have a Mass for the dead celebrated in their presence.1 When the priest begins the Mass, he should ask and encourage them to pray for the soul of the deceased. Once the Mass is said, all the poor should be refreshed in such a way that they leave the meal happy, so that the deceased may rejoice in their prayers and the poor may rejoice in the meal. Sixth, because he will pay his debts down to the very last penny and will remain in punishment, you should know that toward the end of his life, and at the very end, he did have the will (though not as fervent as it should have been) to pay his debts. Because of that will, he is among those who are to be saved. From this, a person can grasp how great the mercy of my Son is, who grants rest for so little. And if he hadn't had that intention, he would have been damned forever. Therefore, those relatives who have succeeded to their goods ought to have the will to pay, and must actually pay, their debts to everyone they know they owe. And as for those to whom they pay their debt, they should humbly ask them to be merciful to the soul of the deceased, in case it has suffered harm from a long wait. Otherwise, those relatives of the deceased will bear the burden of his sin if they fail to pay. Next, let them send an offering of their choosing to every monastery in the kingdom, and have a Mass said publicly in the community; and before the Mass begins, let prayers be offered for that soul, so that God may be appeased toward them. Afterward, have a Mass for the dead said in every parish church where he owned property. The priest should sing this with the whole congregation present, and before he begins, he should say to the people: This Mass is to be celebrated for his soul. I ask you in the name of Christ, if he has offended you in any way—by word, deed, or command—please forgive him. And in this way, let him approach the altar.
The Power of the Eucharist
The efficacy of the Holy Mass and the Real Presence of Christ are presented as the ultimate means of liberation from purgatorial suffering.
Seventh, it's that he was a judge who handed over his judgment to wicked deputies, which is why he's now in the hands of demons. However, because they acted wickedly against his will—even though he didn't care or pay as much attention as he should have—he can be set free if he receives help. But by what help? Certainly, through the most holy Body of my Son, which is offered daily on the altar. For the bread that is placed on the altar is bread before those words, 'This is my body,' are spoken, but after those words are said, it is changed into the body of my Son, which he took from me without stain, and which was crucified. Then the Father is honored and adored in the Spirit by the members of the Son, while the Son rejoices in the power and majesty of the Father. His mother—who I am—is honored by the entire heavenly host, for I gave birth to Him; all the angels turn to Him and adore Him, and the souls of the just offer thanks because they have been redeemed through Him. It’s terrible for those poor souls who handle such a worthy and magnificent Lord with unworthy hands! Therefore, this Body, which died out of love, has the power to set him free. Therefore, have one Mass said for each of the solemnities of my Son: specifically, one for the Nativity, one for the Circumcision, one for the Epiphany, one for the Body of Christ, one for the Passion, one for Easter, another for the Ascension, and one for Pentecost. Also, one Mass for each feast day celebrated in my honor, and nine Masses in honor of the nine orders of angels. When these Masses of the angels are celebrated, nine poor people should be gathered and given food and clothing, so that the angels—to whom he was entrusted for protection and whom he offended in many ways—may be appeased by this modest offering and be able to present his soul to his God. Then, let one Mass be said generally for all the departed, so that they may find rest through it, and that she herself may be held in worthy rest with them.2
A Voice from Purgatory
The deceased prince himself confirms the efficacy of prayer and the Eucharist while lamenting the neglect of his survivors.
He was a noble and merciful man. After his death, this man appeared to Lady Birgitta and said, "Nothing lifts me from my sufferings as much as the prayer of the righteous and the Sacrament of the altar." But because I was a judge and entrusted my judgments to those who loved justice less, I am still held here in exile. Yet I would be freed sooner if those who should have been—and were—my own people were more concerned for my salvation. Also on the same subject in this book, chapter 21. Chapter.
Read the original Latin
"Ego sum celi regina, ego mater misericordie, ego iustorum gaudium et aditus peccatorum ad Deum. Nulla eciam est pena in purgatorii igne, que propter me non remissior erit et leuior ad ferendum, quam aliter esset.
Nullus est adeo maledictus, qui, quamdiu viuit, careat misericordia mea, quia propter me leuius temptatur a demonibus, quam aliter temptaretur.
Nullus ita alienatus est a Deo, nisi omnino fuerit maledictus, qui, si me inuocauerit, non reuertatur ad Deum et habebit misericordiam.
Ego enim, quia sum misericors et a filio meo misericordiam consecuta, ostendere tibi volo, quomodo ille amicus tuus defunctus, de quo tu doles, saluari potest de septem plagis, quas tibi filius meus dixit.
Primo saluabitur ab igne, quem patitur pro luxuria, si aliquis vellet secundum tres ordines Ecclesie, coniugatorum scilicet, viduarum et virginum, vnam feminam tradere nuptui pro anima eius, aliam religioni, terciam, que posset stare in viduitate, quia in luxuria grauiter eciam in matrimonio proprium thorum excedendo peccauit.
Secundo, quia in gula tripliciter peccauit, primo laute et vltra mensuram comedendo et bibendo, secundo propter superbiam et ostentacionem plura fercula preparando, tercio nimis diu in mensa sedendo et opus Dei pretermittendo,
et ideo, qui voluerit, colligere in honore Dei, qui est trinus et vnus, propter hanc triplicem gulam tres pauperes per vnum annum integrum, et ministret eis talia fercula et eque bona, qualia ipse personaliter comedit, qui colligit eos,
nec prius comedat ipse, quam illos tres viderit comedere, vt per hanc modicam expectacionem deleatur illa longa mora, quam amicus tuus habuit sedendo in mensa. Insuper ministret illis tribus vestes sufficienter et lectisternia, prout eis expetere et expedire viderit.
Tercio pro superbia, quam habuit multipliciter, debet, qui voluerit, colligere septem pauperes in qualibet septimana per vnum annum, quali die voluerit, et lauet pedes ipsorum humiliter cogitando sic secum in corde, dum lauat eos:
'Domine Ihesu Christe, qui captus es a Iudeis, miserere ei!' ; secundo: 'Domine Ihesu Christe, qui ligatus es ad columpnam, miserere ei!' ; tercio: 'Domine Ihesu Christe, qui iudicatus es innocens a nocentibus, miserere ei!' ;
quarto: 'Domine Ihesu Christe, qui propriis vestibus exutus es et indutus vestibus derisionis, miserere ei! ; quinto: 'Domine Ihesu Christe, qui ita grauiter flagellatus es, vt coste tue viderentur et non esset in te sanitas, miserere ei!' ;
sexto: 'Domine Ihesu Christe, qui colaphizatus es et consputus, miserere ei!' ; septimo: 'Domine Ihesu Christe, qui in stipite extensus es, cuius manus, pedes et caput fuit cruentatum spina, oculi fuerunt pleni lacrimis, os et aures plene sanguine, miserere ei!' .
Lotis autem pauperibus reficiat eos, vt melius poterit et expedire eis viderit, et roget eos humiliter, vt orent pro anima illius.
Quarto peccauit in accidia tripliciter. Primo fuit accidiosus in eundo ad ecclesiam, secundo in querendo indulgencias, tercio in visitando loca sanctorum.
Pro primo igitur, qui voluerit, vadat ad ecclesiam semel in mense per vnum annum et faciat dici vnam missam pro defunctis pro anima eius.
Pro secundo vadat, quociens commode poterit et voluerit, specialiter pro anima eius ad loca, vbi dantur indulgencie et vbi deuociores eos audit, qui dant illas.
Pro tercio mittat oblacionem suam per aliquem fidelem et iustum ad precipuos sanctos in regno isto Suecie, vbi conuentus populi ex deuocione et causa indulgenciarum fieri solet, vtputa sancti Erici, beati Sigfridi et similium.
Et eum, qui portet oblacionem, fideliter remuneret pro labore.
Quinto, quia peccauit in inani gloria et leticia, colligat, qui voluerit, omnes pauperes, qui sunt in curia eius vel vicinio eius, in quolibet mense semel per vnum annum et statuat eos in vna domo et faciat ante eos dici vnam missam pro defunctis.
Quam cum inceperit sacerdos, roget et moneat eos, vt orent pro anima eius. Dicta autem missa reficiantur omnes pauperes taliter, quod recedant de conuiuio leti, vt defunctus letetur precibus eorum et pauperes letentur de refeccione.
Sexto, quia vsque ad nouissimum quadrantem soluet debita et morabitur in pena, scire debes, quod circa finem suum et in fine voluntatem habuit (licet non ita feruentem, vt deberet) soluendi debita sua. Propter quam voluntatem in statu saluandorum est.
Ex quo perpendere potest homo, quanta est misericordia filii mei, qui pro tam modico dat requiem. Et nisi illam voluntatem habuisset, ipse sine fine dampnatus fuisset.
Ideo debent parentes sui, qui in bonis suis successerunt, habere voluntatem soluendi et soluere debita sua, quibuscumque nouerint debere. Et quibus soluunt debitum suum, rogent eos humiliter, vt indulgeant anime eius, si dampnum ex longa expectacione incurrerint. Alioquin dicti parentes defuncti peccatum illius portabunt, si non soluerint.
Deinde cuilibet monasterio in regno mittat oblacionem, qualem voluerit, et faciat dici vnam missam in conuentu publice, et antequam incipiatur missa, rogetur pro anima eius, vt placatus sit ei Deus.
Postea dicatur vna missa pro defunctis in qualibet ecclesia parrochiali, in qua bona sua habuit. Quam sacerdos presenti omni populo cantet, et antequam incipit cantare, dicat populo:
'Ista missa celebranda est pro anima illius. Rogo vos per nomen Christi, vt, si aliquid contra vos verbo vel facto vel mandato deliquerit, indulgete ei.' Et sic accedat ad altare.
Pro septimo, scilicet quod iudex fuit et iudicium suum commisit vicariis iniquis, propter quod est in manibus demonum. Verumptamen, quia contra voluntatem eius erat, vt inique agerent, licet minus curabat et attendebat, quam deberet, liberari potest, si habebit auxilium.
Sed per quale auxilium? Vtique per sanctissimum corpus filii mei, quod cottidie immolatur in altari.
Panis enim ille, qui in altari ponitur, ante verba illa 'Hoc est corpus meum' panis est sed post verba dicta vertitur in corpus filii mei, quod de me sine macula sumpsit, quod crucifixum est.
Tunc Pater honoratur et adoratur in Spiritu ex membris Filii, Filius exultat in potencia et maiestate Patris; mater eius, que ego sum, honoratur ab omni exercitu celesti, que eum genui; omnes angeli conuertunt se ad eum et adorant, anime iustorum gracias referunt, quod per eum redempte sunt.
O quam horrendum est miseris, qui talem et tam dignissimum Dominum indignis tractant manibus! Hoc ergo corpus, quod pro caritate mortuum est, potest eum liberare.
Ideo dicatur vna missa de qualibet sollempnitate filii mei, scilicet vna de natiuitate, vna de circumcisione, vna de epyphania, vna de corpore Christi, vna de passione, et vna de pascha; alia de ascensione et vna de pentecosten;
item vna missa de qualibet sollempnitate, que in honore meo celebratur; item nouem misse in honore nouem ordinum angelorum.
Que misse angelorum cum celebrantur, nouem pauperes colligantur, quibus victus et vestitus ministretur, vt angeli, quibus ad custodiam datus fuit et quos multipliciter offendit, per hanc modicam oblacionem placari possint et animam eius Deo suo offerre valeant.
Deinde vna missa generaliter pro omnibus defunctis dicatur, vt ipsi per eam requiem optineant et ipsa cum eis digna requie habeatur."
Hic fuit nobilis et misericors. Hic mortuus apparuit domine Birgitte dicens: "Nichil me tantum eleuat a tribulacionibus meis sicut oracio iustorum et sacramentum altaris.
Verum quia iudex fui et iudicia mea commisi hiis, qui minus diligebant iusticiam, ideo adhuc detineor in exilio. Sed cicius liberarer, si hii, qui mei deberent esse et fuerunt, essent ad meam salutem miciores." Item de eodem in isto libro XXI. capitulo.
Notes
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