Theological Foundations new file

193 The Eschatological Direction task, so strongly emphasized by the Founder, was accepted and treated very seriously by his spiritual sons and became a specific characteristic of the Marian community. It was Father Stanislaus’s desire that the Marians would particularly remember their own confreres in prayer. Whenever one of them was dying, he ordered all of them to gather at the sound of the bell to support their dying brother with pious admonition and commend him to God’s goodness and mercy with ardent prayer. Guided by charity, the superior was to make an effort not only to provide medical assistance for the sick person, but especially to give him the remedies for eternal life. These are: a sincere confession of sins, penance, a profession of faith, a renun- ciation of evil spirits, entrusting oneself into God’s hands through the confessor, a pious reception of the Holy Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick, invoking the aid of those who are already in heaven and plac- ing complete hope and trust in the merits of Our Savior. 66 The custom- ary prayers at the side of the dying person were to be recited devotedly and his soul was to be fervently entrusted to God. The body of the deceased was to be fittingly washed and piously laid to rest within three days. Other Marian houses were to be notified about the death as quick- ly as possible so that all members could support the deceased confrere with Holy Masses, prayers and mortifications. 67 *** What the Renovator of the Marians said on the subject of the deceased in his religious legislation amounts to one great call to prayer. His loving heart encompassed the souls of all the faithful departed suf- fering in Purgatory. That is why he ordered his confreres to aid these souls with prayers and sacrifices. 68 They were to offer the Holy Sacrifice of Mass for them, too. 69 They were to offer special prayers for the dead on the day of the Commemoration of All Souls and the seven following days, and during the whole month of November. 70 Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz ordered his confreres to offer special prayers for the deceased Pope and the local Ordinary. After the Holy