Perpetual Intercession to the Agonizing Heart of Jesus. Jean Lyonnard

VII.

      Motives for the establishment of the Confra- ternity of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus in parishes.

      The Confraternity may be established with the greatest advantage in parish churches; first and most easily in those of large town parishes, and afterwards in country places. Death is everywhere: prayers for the dying are needed everywhere. In the present day innumerable dangers beset souls; the chances of a bad death, like the temptations to a bad life, are fearfully multiplied, and this spiritual work of mercy may prove to many a plank of salvation from shipwreck.

      Venerable and zealous pastors of souls! how often have you been overwhelmed with grief when a dying person has rejected your ministry, or only accepted it in a formal manner, with cold indifference, wavering faith, uncertain contrition, and little or no sense of religion. How many times have you felt the need of some special assistance to break down the terrible barriers that close

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      the door of souls against you, even to the last moment. Well, here is a powerful help in your ministry to the dying! Establish the Confraternity of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus in your parish. Choose as its first members a few devout persons on whose constancy and zeal you can rely; assemble them every month; make them thoroughly understand its nature, advantages, and prac- tices. Lay particular stress on the practice of intercession. If the first nucleus does not number thirty-one persons, (and we recom- mend you to begin with fifteen or twenty,) do not require each to make the intercession more than once a month, unless they spon- taneously offer to do so. But whether this holy exercise takes place daily, or only every second day, the associate who performs it should embrace in her intention all who are to die before the next associate's turn begins, so that the intercession may be un- broken.

      Increase the number of associates very gradually; be very particular in your choice of persons. An association of thirty or forty really fervent persons will prove a far more valuable instrument for the salvation of the dying and the edification of your parish than

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      a much larger but less devoted body. Their salutary influence will soon be seen in their own families and in the neighborhood, more particularly if a system of visiting the sick and dying can be organized. Much good may be done by this means, not merely to the sufferers, but to their relations, many of whom are perhaps living without God. Can there be a more favorable opportunity of speaking of God, of giving good counsel to one who neglects religion, or warning a young person who is led astray by love of pleasure, than these visits of charity afford? The words spoken by your pious Associates to the sick and dying, to sorrowing parents, to desolate widows or bereaved children, may have a greater efficacy than all the eloquence of the preacher.

      And do not say, "I have so many works on hand. So many associations are already established in my parish." O, dear bro- there, I should perhaps say so too, did I not know that even the best parishes are tainted with the impiety and corruption of the pre- sent day. The heart of a priest is full of compassion, like the Heart of Jesus; can it fail to be deeply moved at the thought that among the eighty thousand who are dying

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      each day, the three million who are dying each month, the thirty-six million who are dying each year, multitudes are in a state of mortal sin, in danger of eternal ruin? The mercy of our Lord puts into your hands the means of assisting these poor souls in their great necessity; surely you will not fail to use them.

      And, moreover, a great reward awaits you. Those who owe their eternal salvation to you, under God, will, when they are in heaven, repay you a hundred-fold what you have done for them on earth; they will pray for your parish, and they will pray for you when you are dying. What consolation in the thought! Alas! it sometimes happens that a priest who has borne to many the last aids of religion is himself suddenly struck down, and dies without them. Next to a good life, nothing can better ensure for you a good death than such zeal in the service of the dying as you will shew by establishing and maintaining this Confrater- nity in your parish.

      With regard to the half-hour's interces- sion, although it is generally made from half-past two to three o'clock in the after- noon, yet another time may be chosen should

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      any serious reason make it desirable. Field work in country places, and great heat in southern climates, will probably necessitate a change; but let the intercession be regu- larly made at some fixed hour, and in the chapel of the association. We attach great importance to the place, because, if any irregularity on this point is allowed, it would probably lead to unpunctuality and inexactitude in the intercession itself, so that the Association would fail to attain its object, and the dying would be deprived of the assistance they so much want. We cannot too strongly urge Directors and Zelatrixes to ascertain that each associate faithfully observes her appointed hour; in case of omission or negligence, if repeated admonitions are disregarded, the ticket of intercession must be withheld for one or two months from the offender, and should this privation fail to produce amendment, her name must be removed from the list of Associates. The same course should be adopted in regard of any associate whose conduct gives open scandal.