St. Antoninus, the illustrious Archbishop of Florence, tells of a pious gentleman that had died. This man was a great friend to the Dominicans of the Monastery where Antoninus resided. Many Masses and prayers were offered for his soul.

The saint was heartbroken when, after a long time had passed, the soul of the poor gentleman appeared to him, suffering excruciating pains.

"Oh, my dear friend! " exclaimed the archbishop, "Are you still in Purgatory, you who led such a pious and devout life?"

"Yes, and I shall remain there still for a long time, " replied the poor sufferer, "for when on Earth, I neglected to offer prayers for the souls in Purgatory. Now God, by a just judgment, has applied the prayers which have been offered for me to those souls for whom I should have prayed. But God, too, in His Justice, will give me all the merits of my good works when I enter Heaven; but first of all, I have to expiate my grave neglect in regard to others."

So we see that any prayer or sacrifice we offer during our life not only helps those we are praying for, it also helps us. For, as Our Lord tells us: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."