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Jesus smiled at me, and pointed to a table and two chairs, since He was waiting to dine with me, despite my distractions.

At the Easter Vigil, Christ leaned over my chair, showing how delighted He was to be with me, and at my desire to please Him, to live at peace with everyone, and to make Him widely known and loved.

At the Easter Vigil, Christ leaned over my chair, showing how delighted He was to be with me, and at my desire to please Him, to live at peace with everyone, and to make Him widely known and loved.

Christ sees our pain and exhaustion, and comes to us in Holy Communion to offer consolation and reassurance, like a mother stroking a child's hair.

The covering and uncovering of the head is important to Bishops. In Christ's sight, likewise, the custom followed by millions of women is admirable, when they cover their hair, for public prayer, out of reverence and respect for God.

God the Father showed me, in prayer, that when I am forgiven, joyful, and very close to Him in the bond of charity, it's as if I sit at His feet, in silence and peace, as He strokes my hair.

The Lord asked me to draw a picture of a woman wearing her mantilla in church in accordance with ancient custom. He values this sign of reverence for His Presence in the tabernacle, and reverence for His Divinity.

The Lord asked me to draw a picture of a woman wearing her mantilla in church in accordance with ancient custom. He values this sign of reverence for His Presence in the tabernacle, and reverence for His Divinity.

In deliberate steps (Christ explained), He had led me slowly towards a recognition of the reverence and beauty associated with the Traditional way of offering the Holy Sacrifice, and the customary way, for women, of veiling their hair in His Presence, during the Sacred Liturgy.

Christ said to me, about the mantilla I was wearing in Church: "This is what I want every woman to do" - as a mark of respect for Him. Or we can wear a headscarf, hat or veil; so long as we cover most of our hair, just as St. Paul recommends, and as has been customary in the Church for two thousand years.

A person who is determined to make preparation, to be worthy to receive the gift of contemplation, is like a man willing to go to the station, and travel on a train through dark tunnels, in order to reach the heights of the Himalayas. Someone who will not get out of bed to pray is like a man who wants to travel on high, but who sits waiting for a sedan chair to be sent down to fetch him. It will not come.

The life of grace is like a journey up a mountain, round hairpin bends. Drivers need to know the highway code, and refrain from drink; so we must know about God's Will, and by prayer and other means be able to do it. In the life of grace, however - unlike mountain driving, where there are foolish drivers who might kill us - no-one loses his own soul and goes to Hell except through his own fault.

Christ assured me that if I made a hat to wear to my grandson's Baptism I would honour Christ by obediently covering my hair in church, honour the occasion by special dress, and honour my husband by looking so smart!

If women do not cover their hair in church, they should at least control it. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass should be respected as a sacred rite, carefully choreographed, with reverent and beautifully-vested Clergy. If women are sometimes allowed in the sanctuary, they ought not to be given privileges proper to the clergy; and they should be invited to attend to their hair and clothing, in honour of almighty God.

Just as a scientist, using an illuminated magnifying lens, can see hair-line cracks, and other dangers to hygiene, invisible to the naked eye, so the Lord can illuminate our souls in prayer; and the Divine, healing light that shines within our souls when we bring our sins, hurts and problems to God is a powerful means of achieving purity and holiness.

Christ invites us to reflect upon the wearing of a chapel-veil or headscarf by women in past times, or in other parts of the world today. He wants us to know that it is a valuable, visible sign of reverence and humility, in accordance with Scriptural precept and long-standing custom: a sign which He asks us to persevere in.

Christian women who live and work in the world need not fear they are sinful if they take care of their appearance, and try to look attractive for their husbands. Sensible decisions about clothing and hair care are necessary; it is only vanity and extravagance that are unworthy of people bound for Heaven.

Even if they are kind to their friends, very many young Catholics cannot be bothered to pray, to give up their sins, to attend Holy Mass, or to show reverence, like the Saints. Many loll in an armchair to pray, without much respect or reverence, and then feel virtuous because they have spoken to God.