Of All Souls Day And Our Good Old Jesuit

Again, the soul is not properly the full conquest of Jesus till it is safely landed in heaven, and our dear Redeemer presents it to the Eternal Father as a trophy of His Sacred Passion; and was it not better to keep the poor neglected soul waiting in Purgatory, than to keep Jesus waiting in heaven? and beside all this sadness about passing over the forgotten soul, would it not make Jesus smile, and something would be done for that poor soul?

Here was touchiness about the interests of Jesus. And furthermore, thought our good old Jesuit, the sooner this soul, that is so near heaven, gets into heaven, the sooner will it begin to gain all manner of graces from God for my soul, and for the souls of sinners upon earth.

Here was anxiety for the salvation of souls. And so away went the indulgence to the soul that was nearest its release, not without a very fervent sigh, and a very wistful look to Mary, and a comfortable suspicion that Jesus would do something extra for the poor forgotten soul.

The decision of the good Father seems to have high authority; for among the revelations made to Sister Francesca of the Blessed Sacrament, a Spanish Theresian (Carmelite) nun, it was told her that immense numbers of souls issued from purgatory on the evening of All Souls' Day ; and that they were mostly those who were near to glory among whom God distributed the suffrages of the Universal Church on that day.

Yet, on the other hand, we know that St. Vincent of Paul's special devotion was to the most destitute soul. But then, destitute souls were his line; he was their property and possession.

From the electronic book All for Jesus By Frederick William Faber page 45, read it (here).
Photo is of Fr. Faber