6. One of seven years and seven quarantains; whenever an hour of
adoration is made before the sacrament.
7. One of 300 days attaching to the reciting of three “Our Fathers,”
three “Hail Marys,” and three “Glorias.” All these indulgences are
further declared to be “applicable to souls in Purgatory,” and subjects
of them are exhorted to use prayer especially for this object. All this
is enforced by the following reflection: “Association tends rather to pay
our debts to heaven than to acquire new personal gifts. Would not this
end be sooner attained by placing in the merciful hands of the Virgin the
suffrages obtained by the exercise of our gratitude, so that she may
dispose of them as she pleases in favour of the poor suffering souls who
are still waiting for their deliverance from the _expiatory_ flames?
Heaven would thus be opened for the souls whom Mary loves best.”
Such is Popery, in the very heart of West London! The church is capable
of holding about 800 people; but the congregation is usually not full.
There is no preacher of any note, but the English priest, E. Sharples, is
represented to be the best and most acceptable. There are three side
altars on each side of the church, besides the High Altar, and an equal
number of confessionals, and the church is open all the day. A quiet
midweek afternoon was the occasion of our visit. It was very warm; and
here, at this confessional or altar and the other, was a lady or a girl,
bending in silence.