works; as also with indulgences and other suffrages, to get out quickly from those pains, and to go to enjoy Almighty God, which ought to move me to favour them as much as I can, though I take it from myself to give to them. For if I should see my friend burn in a great fire, and could get him out without burning myself or any other hurt, it were a great cruelty not to get him out. Then, if by faith I see these souls burn in such a terrible fire, and may deliver them with masses, indulgences, and other good works, it will be a great charity to be careful to do so. And if what I would for myself I am to will for my neighbour, it is just to do what I may to deliver him that suffers pain in purgatory as I would that others should do for me when I am there. Especially, because with this care I make myself worthy that Almighty God should then inspire others to aid me, [1] "for the merciful shall obtain mercy" [2] in that kind wherein they themselves used it. And these very souls, when they come to behold Almighty God, are very grateful to those that favoured them in their afflictions, and will solicit the favour of God for us in ours. And although I take from myself the satisfaction of the work that I apply to the dead, yet in giving it for alms I augment the merit; for charity increases by taking from myself that I had need of to succour the needy. For all these reasons the Holy Scripture says that ' 1 it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins," [3] for from this care follow those benefits that have been declared to those that pray for them.
With this meditation is concluded all that appertains to the purgative way and to purity of soul, which is its proper end; whose defects, if any were in this life, are remedied
