The Heroic Act

This heroic act of charity in behalf of the souls in purgatory consists in a voluntary offering, made by any one of the faithful in their favour, of all works of satisfaction done by him in this life, as well as of all suffrages which shall be offered for him after his death; by this act he deposits all these works and suffrages into the hands of the Blessed Virgin, that she may distribute them in behalf of those holy souls whom it is her good pleasure to deliver from the pains of purgatory, at the same time that he declares that by this personal offering he only forgoes in their behalf the special and personal benefit of these works of satisfaction, so that, if he is a priest, he is not hindered from applying the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass according to the intention of those who give him alms for that purpose. This heroic act of charity, called also a vow of oblation, was instituted by F. Caspar Oliden, a Theatine. It was he who propagated it, and it was at his prayer that it was enriched with many Indulgences.