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It is a cause for sadness, that many people never pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory - amongst whom might be their own friends and relations. It is not a light matter, either, that many do not themselves believe that they might need purification after death; it's as if they imagine they will all be perfect, ready for Heaven!

Whenever we 'show' the Lord in Prayer all our problems, hopes, sins, and resolutions, we make acts of trust in Him. By such acts, we are building a stairway which brings us even closer to Him - by His grace.

If we realise the magnificence of Christ's love, and Christ's glory, in His Presence amongst us, we will be encouraged to act reverently in church, and to see that we are all sinners before Him.

We need to trust in Christ in all difficulties, and value His Will and His opinion above all. We allow His light to shine powerfully from our lives when we have removed all 'obstacles'.

Christ's love for each of us is never-ending and tender. Things go wrong in the spiritual life when people begin to hide themselves from Christ by sin or despondency.

From the glory of Heaven, God has made a bridge to earth, through Christ, so that all who believe in Him and are baptised can have a sure hope of reaching Heaven. He is the only bridge, open to all people.

Mary was conceived Immaculate. By her behaviour and attitudes she was going to influence the Son of God. It was fitting that she was able to provide, by her holiness and purity, a fitting 'pattern' for her son, as He developed in His human nature - even as he remained the same Divine Person.

Even if we try to serve God with wholehearted love, it can seem as if our spiritual life is lived in a 'tunnel' of interior darkness, until the moment of 'breakthrough' into the light, brought about by God.

Those who, for love of God, have endured spiritual darkness in patience are brought at last to 'fly' in prayer far above everyday concerns. No-one reaches such blissful contemplation except those who rise up through the grace of Christ. It cannot be achieved by merely human efforts.

God's graces are pouring out upon us as surely as water pours from a hose pipe in the garden in summer. But if we do not co-operate with God's graces we act like someone who fails to mend a tear in the pipe, fails to find the nozzle, or even fails to pick it up to use it.

Everyone who is determined to aim for perfection, and to love Christ as He deserves to be loved, will at some stage need to 'hold on' with bleeding hands, weary with the effort, and shaken by the assaults of the Evil one.

One day, if we have persevered in the Faith, our darkness will be replaced by glory. The brave soul who has climbed to the top of the 'ladder', even with bleeding hands, will see Christ and Our Lady waiting to greet Him.

One day, if we have persevered in the Faith, our darkness will be replaced by glory. The brave soul who has climbed to the top of the 'ladder', even with bleeding hands, will see Christ and Our Lady waiting to greet Him.

Like someone on a rope-ladder, with bleeding hands, we must endure trials and temptations.

So good is Christ our Lord, that he shows His gratitude when we have made special efforts to do His Will.

A person who is too preoccupied with his own interests - even good things - and who does not listen to those who deserve his love and loyalty, is like a swimmer with a snorkel who chooses to cut himself off from his friends nearby.

Someone who searches avidly for new devotions is like a fish which searches for food, day after day, on the Barrier Reef. We need spiritual 'food', but also to make time for our everyday duties, and for care of our neighbour.

It is a long way we must 'travel', if we are to persevere on our journey from sinful earthly life to the holiness and beauty of Heaven. Only by God's power, poured out in the sacraments, can we 'ascend' on high.

The Lord is so generous in giving me many images to share that I need not worry that I am unable to pause to admire each one. No busy gardener can look at, and pause beside, every single blossom in her garden.

God sees every good effort of human beings to serve Him. Sincere people in many religions reach out towards Heaven, to praise their Creator, however they picture Him, and in the hope of contact with Him. Yet the Catholic Faith is different from other religions in that, at every Mass, Heaven is laid open above us. Christ's power and Christ's intercession allow us to reach the Father, in the Spirit, through baptism and faith and the Sacrifice of the Mass.