Christians who wish to escape the rigors of Purgatory must love the mortification of their divine Master, and beware of being delicate members under a Head crowned with thorns .On 10/2/1656 , in the province of Lyrons, Father Francis of Aix , of the Society of Jesus , passed away to a better life.He carried all the virtues of a Religious to a high degree of perfection. Penetrated with a profound veneration towards the most Blessed Trinity , he had for particular intention in all his prayers and mortifications to honour this August Mystery ; to embrace by preference those works for which others showed less inclination , had a particular charm of him. He often visited the Blessed Sacrament , even during the night, and never left the door of his room without going to say a prayer at the foot of the altar. His penances, which were in a manner excessive , gave him the name of the man of suffering. He replied to one who advised him to moderate them,
" The day which I should allow to pass without shedding some drops of my blood to offer to my God would be for me the most painful and the severest mortification. Since I cannot hope to suffer martyrdom for the love of Jesus Christ , I will at least have some part in His suffering."
Another Religious, Brother Coadjutor of this same order, did not imitate the example of this good Father. He had little love for mortification, but , on the contrary, sought his ease and comfort, and all that could gratify the senses. This brother, some days after his death, appeared to Father d' Aix, clothed in frightful haircloth, and suffering great torments, in punishment for the faults of sensuality which he had committed during life. He implored the assistance of his prayers, and immediately disappeared.
Another fault against which we must guard, because we so easily fall into it, is the unmortification of the tongue . Oh! how easy it is to err in words! How rare a thing it is to speak for any length of time without offending against humilty , meekness, sincerity , or Christian charity! Even pious persons are often subject to this defect; when they have escaped all the other snares of the demon , they allow themselves to be taken , says St. Jerome , in this last trap ---- slander.
