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We who belong to Christ must not imagine that we go 'away' from Him when we leave the church building, or when we finish our prayers at home. Christ is very close to us, wherever we are, whether at work, or in leisure-time, or in our trips to the hospital or the shops.

When a man or woman selfishly deserts the vocation to which he or she had freely consented, that person turns away from Christ, Who had called that person, and Who was willing to help that person through every difficulty. It is a dreadful matter to desert a spouse or to abandon one's own children.

To greet Christ in Holy Communion with sincere contrition for weaknesses, and with reverence, humility and love, is deeply consoling for Him. It is as if we had rolled out a red carpet for Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior and King

When we greet Christ carelessly in Holy Communion we treat Him, our God, with a dreadful lack of respect, even worse than when people show disrespect towards a Monarch in earthly life by casual or rude behaviour. Our God, coming to our hearts, deserves to be greeted with humility, reverence, joy and gratitude.

We are right to honour the Ever-Virgin Mother of God. Christ is delighted when we remember that the Blessed Virgin Mary is a real, warm-hearted, living person, the Mother of Jesus, now beside Him in Heaven. She loves us and prays for us, as our Mother. We should not treat her merely as a symbol of good values, or as a type, or an emblem, mascot or figurehead or object. We should honour her for her person, her faithfulness and her exalted role.

It is an outrage, in God's sight, and it saddens the Heart of Christ, whenever Catholics behave badly in church as if at closing time in a pub - even when they should be waiting in reverent silence for the start of a First Communion Mass for a member of the family. They show no reverence towards God, and set a poor example to the child, when prayer is necessary.

We do not always realise how powerfully we affect others, for good, when we witness unashamedly about the kindness and goodness of Christ. We can powerfully encourage and help individuals; and we should be aware that it's as if we warm Christ's heart by our love, and our desire to see Him loved.

From Heaven, it is as if a great cloud of sin covers those areas of the country and the world where there is mostly ignorance of Christ, indifference to God's laws, determination to fulfil personal desires and ambitions, and no thought about duty, or death and judgement. Faith in Christ is the 'Door' by which those people can reach freedom.

There is an open doorway which we are able to pass through, to leave a God-less and violent way of life and to achieve peace of soul and transformation, and Heaven. It is the only door, and consists of faith in Christ, and willingness to follow His Way.

Saint Paul advises Christ's followers to remember that Christ is with His friends all the time; and we should revere the Lord Jesus in our hearts at any time of day as well as being prepared to explain our Faith to enquirers.

When we pray at Mass, as the wine is consecrated, and is changed into the Precious Blood of Christ, we can be certain that the very Saviour Who once shed His Blood for our sakes on Calvary, is with us now, in our church, in a re-presentation of His Saving Work. He prays for us now (here at Douai Abbey), just as He once prayed for sinners from the Cross.

In Christ's sight, teachers of the faith ought to embody it. It is not enough for teachers to believe in the articles of the Faith, if they do not show out the virtues, including chastity, for example. Women, especially, should pay attention to their clothing and avoid immodest garments or styles which tempt other people to have unchaste thoughts.

It is not wise for any artist to paint naked figures, or figures with revealing or immodest clothing, which will incite or increase lustful thoughts in the minds of those who gaze at them. Even though attempts to cover up the genitalia on a famous painting have been mocked, Christ looks on with gladness when crude art works or obscene materials are taken out of sight, or covered up.

We must expect to meet criticism, especially about chastity. Critics of Christians and Christianity call good people 'prudish' or old-fashioned, when care is taken to wear modest clothing, to lead chaste lives, and to avoid indecent films and art displays, and to protest at public nudity. This must not deter Christians from keeping the Commandments, and striving to be 'as pure as Christ'.

In wanting to share the good news about Christ, and the Catholic Faith, we do not begin by accosting people we do not know, to accuse them of sin. We imitate Christ, Who first got to know a person - as in Simon's house - and only when a bond was established gently mentioned things which Simon needed to know, above love for a neighbour.

All who love and serve Christ and their neighbour with sincere hearts, and who persevere in love and purity and gratitude until they die, can be sure of being drawn across the great Abyss, after death, as if on an express train which is supported by the upstretched arms of Christ, Who Himself is the bridge to Heaven.

There are good people of other religions who have never heard of Christ, or learned of His true nature. When they die, it's as if they will be shown that only through His mercy can they cross the bridge He has made, which takes people from earthly life, across the Abyss to Heaven. Those who see and accept him will be saved.

Whenever we pray in the name of Christ to our Heavenly Father, we are wise to keep in mind that Heaven should be our final destination. Christ has made possible our contact with Heaven, and the promise of Eternal joy for the faithful. If we could peer through a little window into Heaven, without being dazzled by Divine glory, we would see the wonders prepared for all of Christ's true friends.

The smoke of Satan has entered the Church, causing many Catholics to approve of various types of immorality, to practice forbidden acts, to protest about legitimate discipline and constant teachings on faith and morals, to demand Papal approval of heresy, to water down the truth when catechising others, and to show little reverence for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

A person who enjoys an intimate relationship with Christ, in the heights of the spiritual life, must not feel ashamed if she is not feeling as awe-struck and astonished as in the earlier years. If her heart has grown even more grateful to Christ, and even more glad about opportunities to share Good News, she can enjoy His blessed, quiet friendship in peace