Saint Stanislaus suffered from a fatal illness in August 1701. Although consumed by fever, he was coherent and lucid until his death on Sept. 17. When his suffering intensified, he repeated, “Increase, O Lord, my sufferings, that You may diminish the punishment of the souls in Purgatory.” Such a heroic petition flowed from a lifetime of heartfelt devotion to alleviating their suffering. He willingly offered all his illnesses, sufferings, labors, persecutions, fasts, mortifications, penances, good deeds, and merits for them throughout his life, and encouraged his fellow Marians to do the same. Double reward In his testament of 1692, he wrote: “I promise a double reward at God’s hands to all those who choose and support this small Congregation of the Immaculate Conception, brought into being by God to assist the dead.” He invoked Mary not only as the one immaculately conceived but as the “most merciful Protectress of the Souls in Purgatory.” When organizing the new Congregation, St. Stanislaus ordered that each confraternity of the Immaculate Conception — established at the Marian houses and chapels — intercede for the souls in Purgatory. When he talked with people, he would pray with them a Chaplet of the Immaculate Conception for the suffering souls. While visiting the Oratorian monastery in Studzianna, St. Stanislaus felt he was losing his strength. Half dead, yet in ecstasy, he experienced the mystery of the souls enduring their final purification. As he witnessed their tremendous pain, he felt that the Blessed Mother — together with the Holy Souls — asked him to return to life so that he would intercede for them. The Oratorians went to St. Stanislaus’ cell to find out what had happened. Upon finding him, they considered him dead. But the superior assured them that St. Stanislaus was alive. He returned to life, received the superior’s blessing, and proceeded — still emaciated by fever — to deliver a long sermon about helping the souls in Purgatory. He then returned to his Marian monastery and ordered his fellow Marians to pray the Rosary and Office of the Dead every day, encouraging them to offer all they could to free the souls from their unbearable torments. When St. Stanislaus was ill, he remembered that he had a gold coin, which he ordered to be given to the priests for celebrating a Mass for the Holy Souls. Those who knew St. Stanislaus recalled that he would often lock himself in his cell to pray and, in ecstasy, descend to Purgatory, experiencing their suffering. He would ask the Father: “O, God of infinite Mercy, give me more suffering and diminish their punishment.” Another day, when praying with the Marians in chapel, he saw a soul judged for its sins. Moved with compassion, he interrupted the silence of prayer and told his confrères: “Let us pray together for the soul that is being judged right now.” It is supposed that this soul was that of King John III Sobieski. Saint Stanislaus’ devotion to the souls was revived by serving as chaplain to the Polish army led by that King in 1675. He cared for the soldiers who died in battle and prayed at their graves. One biographer wrote that the souls of the soldiers appeared to him and asked for his intercession. Even while seated at a meal, he fell into ecstasy and watched the suffering of the Holy Souls. Upon arriving at his monastery where he fasted and prayed for several days, he simply said to his brothers: “Pray, brethren, for the souls in Purgatory, for they suffer unbearably!” Greatest charity Saint Stanislaus, as a canonized saint, practiced heroic virtue. We may not be so strengthened in grace by the Holy Spirit that we can ask to suffer more so that the Holy Souls suffer less. But we can imitate our holy Father Founder’s compassion and prompt readiness to aid them by whatever means possible. We can give stipends for Masses for the intention of the Holy Souls; we can offer our trials and good works for their sake. I invite you as well to participate in the “90 Days for the Souls in Purgatory,” which began on August 4 and extends to November 2. Each day, we pray for a different group of the souls in Purgatory, beseeching our merciful Father to hasten their entrance to Heaven. To join, visit DivineMercyPlus.org. “It is the greatest charity to pray earnestly to God for the freedom of the souls remaining in Purgatory, or to assist them by merciful alms as by various other means,” St. Stanislaus wrote. “Quite impious and foolish is he who is not moved by their torments, and does not help those who suffer when he can… 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!” By Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton, MIC We invite you to join the Marians this November in our month-long remembrance of all the faithful departed. Visit Marian.org/b63 to join us in our November remembrance. Marian Helper • Fall 2024 • Marian.org 19
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