655 chapter 21: the restoration of the mystical temple of these souls who cry aloud in these words: “Pity me, pity me, O you my friends!” (Job 19:21). What about the fact that we shall have in Heaven as many Patrons and helpers as many souls we have brought there, thanks to our help, from the furnace of Purgatory! I do not relate many things on this subject; let it suffice to consider and follow what the Holy Spirit declared: “it is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosened from sins” (2 Macc 12:45-46) [LV]. The last work of Mercy, equal nonetheless to the others, is: to remit offenses. If Christians were willing to do this zealously, as they should, quarrels would cease, tribunals would be abolished; frauds, deceits and many cunning devices, which vengeance at times contrives, and are for the most part unjust, would perish; many would be presented by God with the true laurel of patience. Saint Paul in times past already enjoined this on the Corinthians when he said: “But rather brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers? Now indeed [then] it is, in any case, a failure on your part that you have lawsuits against one another. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather let yourselves be cheated? Instead you inflict injustice and cheat, and this to brothers! Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Cor 6:6-9). From this conclusion of the Apostle, a serious one indeed, I understand that he who suffers injuries is blessed; while the one who inflicts injury is unhappy. As much as the former will be exalted for disregarding vengeance, so much so the latter will be humbled by God for perpetrating injustice. It is good to forgive, but evil to irritate, offend and oppress. In forgiving I imitate Christ; in oppressing me you emulate the torturers of Christ. Therefore I encourage that injuries be remitted, and discourage that they be inflicted. For it is beneficial for me to suffer innocently, but for you it is greatly detrimental to harass me. Ah! So you must go headlong to hell, because by your persecution you raise me to the heavens? And finally I conclude this with a most devout Father: “The patient man who grieves more over the other’s malice than over his own injury, has a great and salutary purification” [IC, Bk. I, Ch. 24, § 2].
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