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The Heroic Act Of
Charity In Favor
Of The Poor Souls In Purgatory
The Heroic Act of Charity is a most beautiful and effective manifestation of
devotion to the Pour
Souls, as well as of love of God and of neighbor in general.
Purpose and Meaning of the Heroic Act
of
Charity.
The heroic act of charity on behalf of the souls in Purgatory consists of a
voluntary offering of
all our works of satisfaction done in this life, as well as prayers which will
be offered after our
death. By this act the individual deposits these works and prayers in the hands
of the Blessed
Virgin to distribute on behalf of the holy souls.
Every meritorious act
performed in the state of
sanctifying grace and with a good intention, gains
for us the following spiritual privileges:
1. An increase in sanctifying grace.
2. Many graces for ourselves and for others.
3. Remission of temporal punishment for our sins. Only this third fruit, the
expiatory part of
the works that we accomplish, is conceded or applied to the souls in Purgatory.
The heroic act
therefore does not prevent us from praying for ourselves or for others, nor from
letting others
share in our good works.