Return to The Reign of Mary No. 194
The Reign of Mary
No. 194: Letter from the Editor
November 21, 2024
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dear friends in Our Lady,
Praised be Jesus and Mary. As I write we are in the midst of the month of November, the month dedicated to helping the Poor Souls in purgatory. The religious of Mary Immaculate Queen have always maintained this devotion — the practice of prayer, sacrifice, acts of charity and gaining of indulgences for the relief of the Poor Souls detained in purgatory. Daily during November we recite prayers for their relief.
By reflecting on the doctrine of purgatory, we are not only inspired to pray for the Poor Souls, but we are also motivated to live in such a way as to avoid that cleansing fire. Those who have read the wonderful book Purgatory Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints, by Fr. X. F. Schouppe, S.J. (or some other book on purgatory) are well aware of the intensity of the pains endured by these holy souls to expiate even the smallest of sins. What folly, then, for Catholics to neglect to amend their lives, thus willingly consigning themselves to suffer perhaps many years in those purifying flames. We can so easily avoid purgatory by more earnestly striving to amend our lives.
Our Lord admonishes us that we shall have to render an account at judgment for even an idle word. How much more so for the many sins of which we have been guilty! St. John declares: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Let us then, seek to overcome sin, particularly by avoiding all serious occasions of sin. Let us also practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. And let us gain indulgences, which are so easy to gain and by which we can atone for our sins in this life, as well as help the poor suffering souls in purgatory.
Finally, as we enter the important season of Advent, let us prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of our divine Savior into the world by avoiding the many distractions so prevalent in the world at this holy time, by spending extra time in quiet reflection and prayer, and by acts of mortification. Let us especially prepare for Christmas in union with Mary. Reflect on her expectation of the coming birth of Jesus — how she spent those nine months in prayerful union with God, as she awaited the birth of the promised Redeemer, who was her own child. May the divine Babe of Bethlehem be born anew in our hearts this Christmas!
In the service of Jesus and Mary,
Rev. Fr. Benedict Hughes, CMRI (Email)