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How Brother John of Alvernia, as he said Mass on All Souls’ Day, saw many souls delivered from Purgatory
As the aforesaid Brother John was on a time saying the Mass on the day after All Saints” for the souls of all the dead, according as the Church has ordained, with such effectual charity and such pitying compassion did he offer that most high sacrament, (which for its saving power, the souls of the dead desire above all other blessings that can be poured upon them), that he seemed altogether as though he were melted with the sweetness of pity and brotherly love. For the which cause as he devoutly elevated the Body of Christ in that Mass, and offered it unto God the Father, and prayed that for the love of His beloved Son Jesu Christ, who for the redemption of souls had hung upon the cross, it would please Him to set free from the pains of Purgatory the souls of the dead He had created and redeemed, — straightway he saw a multitude of souls wellnigh without number coming forth from Purgatory, like countless sparks of fire coming out of a blazing furnace, and he beheld them rise up to heaven, through the merits of the passion of Christ, who every day is offered for the quick and the dead in that most sacred Host, that is worthy to be adored in s acuta saculorum.
