Purgatorial societies are Roman Catholic Church associations or confraternities which aim to assist souls in purgatory reach heaven. The doctrine concerning purgatory (the term for the intermediate state in Roman Catholicism), the condition of the poor souls after death (particular judgment), the communion of saints, and the satisfactory value of our good works form the basis of these associations.
In the present day, many purgatorial societies exist, such as the Purgatorian Archconfraternity, which is run by the monks in the religious order of Transalpine Redemptorists; the Central Ohio Purgatorial Society, a lay apostolate; Saint Gertrude Purgatorian Society, which is based in the United States; the Guild of All Souls, which is a traditionalist Catholic purgatorial society under the auspices of the Guild of St. Peter ad Vincula; and the Holy Souls Registry, that is run by America Needs Fatima.
History
For centuries, associations praying for the purgatorial souls were common.cf., Kraus, "Christl. Alterümer", s. v. Fraternitas The old religious orders, e.g. the Benedictine Order, especially the Order of Cluny which inaugurated All Souls' Day, also met some of this need. Religious confraternities are likewise distinguished in their early beginnings by a special devotion to the sick and burial of the deceased (e.g. the brotherhood of Constantinople which flourished in 336,Baronius, "Annales", ad an. 336, IV (Lucca, 1739), 295; cf. VII (Lucas, 1741), 869 "Parabolani" and in the West the Confratriæ or Confraternitates of the Middle Ages). Even medieval guilds, established primarily for secular purposes, included in their constitutions to require charity for deceased members.Michael, "Gesch. des deutschen Volkes", I (1897), 146, 150, sq; Janssen, "Gesch. d. deutsch. Volkes", I (1st ed.), 319 sqq.
The early associations In Northern Europe, the medieval associations of prayer called "fraternitates", "societates", and "consortium" are not as well known, although some "Totenbünde" (German for associations for the dead) existed, affording one of the best proofs of the existence of lively faith, especially among the Anglo-Saxons, Franks and the Germanic peoples in general.cf. Adalbert Ebner, "Die klösterl. Gebets-Verbrüderungen", Ratisbon, 1890; Georg Zappert, "Ueber Verbrüderungsbücher u. Nekrologian im Mittelalter", Vienna, 1853 They were founded chiefly, though not solely, to assist deceased members with prayers, Mass and works of Christian charity.
Ducange-Favre defines a Confraternitas "as ... a society formed between various churches and monasteries, abbeys, bishops and noblemen; later kings, princes, bishops, priests and the laity, especially ecclesiastical benefactors, were admitted". The admission papers or the constitutions of the brotherhood usually stated in detail how many Masses, what prayers, and good works would be offered on their death for the repose of the souls of deceased members, in the place of worship or by individuals. The members were enrolled in a registry (a Liber Vitæ or 'book of life'), a development of the ancient diptychs. Upon the death of a member, a messenger was immediately dispatched with a circular (rotulus) to announce the death to all the affiliated monasteries, where the name was inserted in list of the dead. These lists of the dead were also known as necrologies for constant commemoration; these lists were, like the earlier diptychs, read aloud so that special prayers might be said for the deceased mentioned, and a special commemoration made by the priest during the Eucharist.Kraus, "Christl. Altertümer", II, 486 sq.
The zenith period In the West, these confraternities attained their greatest prosperity during the era from Carolingian reigns till the end of feudalism. In c. 1400 England, Wyclif issued the first public opposition to these associations.Wycliff, "Triologus" (IV, xxx sq.) These brotherhoods may be divided into those formed of several monasteries or churches, or individual bishops, priests, abbots and monks. However, kings, princes and other laymen, especially benefactors, were admitted into these three classes, and even the frequently very numerous subordinates of a monastery.
Especially during their peak, confraternities were formed among monasteries. In the 9th century, Reichenau was affiliated with more than a hundred other monasteries and chapters in Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy. This affiliation was chiefly due to the reform of the monastery by St. Benedict of Aniane, and is the largest brotherhood known to us. Alcuin worked in the west of the Frankish Empire, and before him St. Boniface had sought with eager zeal to establish and foster in Germany such unions and brotherhoods with England and Italy.cf. Monumenta Germaniæ historica, "Libri confraternitatum"; "Necrologia") Similarly an "Act of Spiritual Association" between the Abbeys of St. Denis of France and St. Remy of ReimsBibl. Nat., MS. lat. 13000, fol. 70 arranged that, within thirty days after the death of a member, the entire Office be recited by each of the surviving members, that the priests say Masses corresponding to the various offices, and that vigils be held in common on the first, seventh, and thirteenth days. At mediaeval synods, the bishops and abbots present frequently formed themselves into such brotherhoods, often extending to the cathedral chapters and monasteries, and to the kings and princes who were present at the councils – in the 8th and 9th centuries, a series of such synods took place: Attigny (762); Dingolfing (769); Frankfort (794); Salzburg (799); Freising (805); Clechyt 815;Synodus Calchuthensis anno X, i, 816 Savionières near Toul (850). Brotherhoods were also formed at other English and Italian synods.cf. Mansi, XII sqq. ad annos cit.; David Wilkins, "Concilia Brittaniæ", I (London, 1737, 171) At diocesan synods all the clergy of a diocese with their bishop formed themselves into brotherhoods, and frequently priests of still smaller districts (rural chapters) formed lesser associations of prayer to which the laity were also admitted.cfr. P.L., CVI, 866, 878; Baluze, "Miscell.", I (Lucca, 1761), 112, lviii; Harduin, "Conc.", VI, 420, xx Individuals of every station, rank, and sex eagerly joined these associations, while numerous rich persons funded monasteries to insure a special share in their suffrage after death. English kings, bishops, abbots and Carolingian kings gave them an excellent example, as did St. Boniface and Alcuin. Even the laity of the lower classes joined the brotherhoods of St. Gall and Reichenau."Mon. Germ. Hist.", "Libri Confraternitatum" & "Necrologia"; Mansi, "Concil.", XIX, 283 sq., "Council. Tremoniense" (i.e., of Council of Dortmund), 1005 The communion of spiritual goods and indulgences, granted by monasteries in the last centuries to another monastery, to benefactors and friends outside the cloister, or to other confraternities, is more than a memorial of the old brotherhoods, since in these grants (communicationes) the promise of spiritual help for the deceased is one of the chief features.
The evolution of modern associations Along with these brotherhoods, there appeared Confraternitaties more closely resembling the present associations. Their chief object was care for the poor souls. Among these might be included the associations devoting themselves to the spiritual welfare of the dying and their burial. Of the confraternities of the dead, only examples can be cited from the earlier centuries, but these show sufficiently clearly how widespread these must then have been. According to an inscription in the Church of Ss. Cosmas & Damian in RomeBaronius, "Annal.", XVI (Lucca, 1774), 272 a number of priests and bishops in Rome formed themselves into an association of sodales (c. 985), each promising that on the death of a member he would immediately sing forty Masses for the repose of his soul.
The 11th to 15th centuries At the beginning of the 11th century, the friends of Knut the Great erected in his honour a confraternity at Abbotsbury, according to the statutes of which each member should on the death of another contribute a penny for the repose of his soul.William Dugdale, 'Monasticon Anglicanum', III (London, 1821), 55. In 1220 Peter, Bishop of Sens ratified a confraternity formed by thirteen clergy who bound themselves to celebrate annually four anniversaries for the benefactors and members.Gallia Christiana, XII (Paris, 1770), Appendix 363, In 1262 twenty-four secular priests united to practice works of mercy for the dead, read Masses for the repose of their souls, et cetera.Quix, "Beschreibung der Münsterkirche zu Aachen", 58, 157, 161 sq. In 1355 at Glocknitz a lay confraternity for the dead accepted members from other parishes and cared especially for the burial of the poor.Monum Boica, IV, 168, sqq. Ducange-Favres. v. Purgatorium speaks of a pious association, founded in 1413, expressly under the name of purgatory, in the old church of Maria Deaurata at Toulouse.
These confraternities concerned themselves almost exclusively with the souls of deceased members and benefactors, while later associations worked for the benefit of all souls. Provision for burial was first made by the 15th century Compagnia della Pietà (founded in Rome in 1448).cf. A. Berignani in "Archivio storico R. di Stor. Patr.", XXXIII, 5, sqq. In the newly erected church of the German cemetery, a confraternity "in honour of the bitter Passion of Christ and of the Sorrowful Mother, to comfort and assist all the faithful souls", was erected (1448) by the penitentiary, Johannes Goldener of Nuremberg, later titular Bishop of Accon and auxiliary bishop of Bamberg.cf. de Waal, "Der Campo Santo der Deutschen zu Rom", Freiberg, 1896, pp. 46 sqq. This confraternity was, in 1579, then raised by Gregory XIII to an archconfraternity, enriched with new indulgences, and empowered to aggregate other confraternities throughout the world.Loc cit, 107, sqq. Although it has undergone many changes, this confraternity still exists, joining at the end of the 19th century with a special Requiem Mass Association for assisting souls of deceased members,loc cit, 307; cf. Beringer, "Die Ablässe", 13th German edition, 1906, pp. 685 sqq. and it is the first purgatorial society according to the present meaning of the name.
The 15th to the 18th century Founded in 1488, the Black Penitents, who marched in procession through Rome under the gonfalone of mercy, aimed to assist, before execution, those condemned to death, and afterwards to provide for their burial, exequies, and Requiem Mass.cf. Raynald, "Annales", XI (Lucca, 1754), 178 sq. ad an 1490 The Confraternity of Our Lady of Suffrage (Santa Maria del Suffragio) existed in Rome from 1592, expressly for the relief of poor souls. It has numerous members, and since 1615 has added other confraternities with the same object.Decr. auth. S. C. Indulg., n. 83, p. 67; Moroni. II, 309; LI, 328 The Archconfraternity of Death and Prayer (mortis et orationis), founded at Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte in Rome in 1538, to provide for the burial of the poor and abandoned, still exists.cf. Berignani, loc. cit ; at the beginning of the 17th century it was granted new indulgences by Paul V Rescr. auth. S. C. Indulg., n. 26, pp. 448 sqq; Moroni, II, 303
About 1687 the rules for a special confraternity "for the relief of the Most Needy Souls in Purgatory" were approved in Rome under the sacred names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.Moroni, XV, 130 The confraternity of Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary and the Sorrowful Mother sponsored processions of the Way of the Cross in the Roman Colosseum and enjoyed special popularity, having been inaugurated September 8, 1760, and having St. Leonard of Port Mauric among its illustrious members.Recr. auth. Summ. pp. 497 sqq; Moroni. loc. cit.)