Introduction
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Division (see above) 1) First part: it’s possible to help the souls in Purgatory by praying for them, as the Church prescribes. Church = human body (reference to 1 Cor 12, 12: the mystical body of the Church): just as in the human body the healthy member helps the defective one, so in the Church the healthy member (i.e. the blessed soul) helps the defective one (i.e. the soul in Purgatory). 2) Second part: we must help the souls of our loved ones in Purgatory; four reasons: 1. because they suffer a lot; 2. because they can no longer gain merit (mortui… non habent ultra mercedem, quote from Eccli 9, 5); 3. because they are in prison; 4. because we received great benefits from them while they were alive. 3) Third part: four ways to help the souls of the dead: 1. by praying (reference to Peter Cantor); 2. by making donations to churches, i.e. by almsgiving (reference to Peter the Venerable); 3. by celebrating masses, i.e. by the offering of the body and blood of Christ. The host (i.e. the sacramental bread) is divided by the priest into three parts: one for the blessed, one for the living, one for the souls in purgatory. 4. by executing wills quickly.