Richness brings a great damage to the man when he doesn`t give alms to the poor for his soul and for the souls of his dead ones. Charity for the pained, for the widows and orphans helps a lot for the peace of the reposed. Because when somebody gives alms for a reposed one the others say: `May God forgive him. May his bones be sanctified` If somebody is sick, he can`t work and has debts and in this difficult situation you help him and say: `Take these for the soul of this person` he will say` May God forgive him. May his bones be sanctified.` Meaning that these people pray from their hearts and this thing is what helps a great deal the reposed ones.
When the man of a certain woman dies without confession and Holy Eucharist or her child dies what else can she do to help their souls?
As much as she can she should become kinder. This of course will help her but will also help her man because after they got married the reposed husband has a share from everything she does. This is the most important thing of all, to become kinder. Otherwise she may make good deeds but she still remains stuck in her habits. Then she tells you: `I made my duty. What else do you want me to do?` And in this way she remains incorrigible or becomes even worse.
Excerpt from Spiritual Awakening – Pious Paisios the Athonite, Evanghelismos.
