St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. Great Indulgence

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J.

The devotion of Pius IX., to St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. is still in the recollection of all. He appointed his feast-day for the ceremony of his coronation, and every year on June 21st sent precious gifts to the tomb of the Saint where he was often seen kneeling in prayer. In an audience granted to the German college in the November of 1873, the venerable pontiff recommended to the students devotion towards our Saint in these words: 

"I still remember," he said, "with what deep emotion I read in my youth the life of the angelic young man and how many tears I shed over it. Read, my sons, the life of this Saint, not only to rejoice in the sweet odour of his virtues, but to emulate them, and to grow like him in the perfect love of God." 

In a decree of June 4th 1861 the Holy Father enriched the devotion of the Chapels called "le Cappellette" of Saint Aloysius with great indulgences; and, on the 25 th of July 1861, he issued a decree granting to all priests, permission to say the votive Mass of the Saint in the Church of S. Ignatius, on all days, except Feasts of the first and second class, when white vestments could be used in the Church. The splendid Brief of our glorious reigning Pontiff Leo XIII. shows beyond a doubt that His Holiness is behind none of his illustrious predecessors in devotion to S. Aloysius and zeal for his honour.
Link (here) to the book entitled Life of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga By Italian Jesuit Fr. Virgilio Cepari, S.J.

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