A Revision of Two Letters from George Morley, Bishop of Winchester, to Jan van Vliet

Another reason is added: that in long expeditions, as often as rugged mountains were encountered, they were great impediments.

From this it is gathered why their use was rarer and not lasting in Italy and Greece. For frequent and rugged mountains in those regions rendered them useless, just as the heavy armor of the soldiers did. Hence the Gauls set them aside. Just as the Briton did when they saw they were less effective against the Roman Legionaries. But enough of these. Let us return to theology. Concerning Purgatory and suffrages for the departed.

SECTION V.

D. Morley, page 13: One must distinguish those two: I understand the invocation of saints and prayer for the departed. For it is not the same, nor of the same consideration, to pray to the departed, and to pray for the departed.

Resp. You distinguish these two most correctly, which not only recent theologians, but also the ancient Fathers and the most ancient liturgies, distinguish. The Divine Mass of St. James, brother of the Lord, prays for the departed: Let us pray to the Lord that our Fathers and Brothers, who have now passed away, may rest in peace. Shortly after, it prays for the saints: Let us make commemoration of our Most Holy... Lady, the Mother of God, and of all the saints and the just, that by their prayers and intercessions we may all obtain mercy.

The Liturgy of Blessed Mark, prayer for the departed: O Lord our God, grant rest to the souls of our Fathers and our Brothers, who have previously fallen asleep in the faith of Christ. Prayer for the saints: Mindful of our ancestors, who have been from the age of the Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Bishops, the just, of every spirit departed in the faith of Christ, and not least of those whose memory we celebrate on this day, and of our Holy Father Mark, the Apostle and Evangelist, who showed us the way of salvation.

I omit the Liturgy of St. Peter because it clearly agrees with the modern Roman [Liturgy]; indeed, this [Roman] was formed from that with some additions.