The Wonders of Divine Faith

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...is tested through fire. With compassionate charity original: "Compassiva charitate" toward each of you, as many as live detained in that valley of tears original: "lacrymarum valle"; a traditional Christian term for the hardships of mortal life or the state of purgation, I declare myself intimately joined to you; for if one member of the body suffers, all members suffer together. While the present Treatise desires to provide this same service among the Faithful, it is so that the individual members among you—who help you with consoling compassion—may be perpetually remembered with a living Faith, and that they may be encouraged to see you freed from punishments through sufficient merits, and strive to promote you to the joys of Heaven. Acknowledge this work as your own, and constantly defend it against its enemies.

Finally to You, most brave Heroine, the Church Militant Ecclesia militans: the body of Christians on earth who are considered to be "at war" against sin and spiritual enemies. on earth, I turn my filial confidence. You fulfill the famous measure of your Name, since you have always appeared as terrible to your enemies as an army set in battle array. Indeed, you count as many champions as the faithful you baptize; you count as many troops of your innumerable army as there are peoples and nations, as many as there are states of Kingdoms and orders of Priests. In the first youth of your birth, you put on the formidable armor of GOD, wearing upon your head the helmet of salvation, and brandishing in your right hand the sword of the Spirit. You have armed yourself with the breastplate of Justice, and always and everywhere with the shield of faith, which resists all the weapons of your enemies—even the fiery ones—as an impenetrable defense; thus you have powerfully protected Yourself and your own. I offer your heroic deeds to You in this brief compendium, while I have recorded the wonders of faith which God, the Commander of your war and battle, daily performs in each of your Faithful, and His own, who live by faith...