From the earliest centuries, Catholics buried their dead in imitation of Christ, who was laid in a tomb and rose again in the flesh. Burial affirms the sacredness of the body, that temple of the Holy Spirit, and proclaims the resurrection with silent confidence.

Many think that it is practically impossible for the ordinary Christian to avoid Purgatory. Go there we all must--so they say...

They laughingly remark: "It will be well for us if we ever get there" Alas! When too late they will recognize how terribly rash their words were. As a consequence of such fatalistic ideas, many make no serious effort to avoid Purgatory, or even to lessen the term they may have to pass there. Thank God all do not hold such gloomy views.

The fact is that a great number of souls go to Purgatory and remain there for long years simply because they had never been told how they could have avoided it.

The means we suggest are easy, practical and within the reach of all. We will briefly enumerate some of the principal means by which we can avoid Purgatory-or at least lessen its severity and duration.