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To move carelessly into serious sin is to be in danger of being cut off from God forever. It's like when a diver in a flooded cave keeps moving into the next cave, without a guideline. Catholics are wise if they rely on sure doctrine and regular prayer.
Sometimes our trials do not go away quickly. We can picture ourselves as like a log, carried along by the current, even if it sometimes bumps into the river-bank, or seems to make little progress.
Jesus said that it is a narrow gate that leads to life, and a hard road. Prayer is the gate. If we refuse to enter it, how can we ask for forgiveness, receive the sacraments, grow in the knowledge and love of God, receive His gifts in prayer, and follow the way to Heaven?
Whoever is willing to abandon prayer to attend to a needy neighbour is, as she reaches out to help, reaching out to Christ, who looks on with love and gratitude. The greatest love for God is shown in doing His Will, whether in prayer or service.
A person who, for love of God, loves and serves her neighbour, walks a hard road towards Heaven, with steep climbs; but as she arrives, it is Christ Himself Who will kneel, wash her feet, then put a white robe over her head, for the feast of Heaven.
A person who, for love of God, loves and serves her neighbour, walks a hard road towards Heaven, with steep climbs; but as she arrives, it is Christ Himself Who will kneel, wash her feet, then put a white robe over her head, for the feast of Heaven.
Someone who wants to prepare for Heaven should simply do the Will of God, for love of God - whether it is by labouring, teaching, serving, or praying; or simply offering up her sufferings in sickness, with Jesus, to help souls.
People who say they love God but who refuse to do His will are as if 'hiding' away from His sight, in a dark pit. As long as they stay 'hidden', they are not yet walking on the bridge to Heaven, the 'bridge' made by Christ across the Abyss.
People throughout the world need to hear the amazing news about Jesus Christ, and the whole plan of salvation. God came down to earth from Heaven: that is the single most important thing for people to know. He came, therefore He loves us. He spoke, therefore we should listen and obey.
Christ's Holy Mother Mary deserved to be honoured; and there should be visible reminders for us, in our churches, that she who is in Heaven now, praying for us, is God the Father's holy daughter, the Spirit's faithful spouse, the Son's holy and loveable Mother, and our mother too.
Just as a mother delights in all her children, with all their differences, so God delights in the different races to which we belong, with our various differences.
Sacred Liturgy is like a river of praise which pours from the Church, upwards towards God in Eternity; and our own personal intentions to praise God with Christ and the Church flow into that 'river', reach Heaven, and give glory to the Father.
Christ rushed to see Abraham in the underworld. Christ had a special love for Abraham, who had believed what God said to him and even obeyed him by leaving his own country.
Christ our God Who reigns in Eternal Glory, is Really Present in the Blessed Sacrament in church, and in the homes of the sick who receive Holy Communion. It is fitting that an 'altar' is prepared, with candles and a clean cloth and a crucifix, where the pyx may be placed.
Each of us must one day stand before God, to give an account of our life on Earth, for our 'particular judgement'. Each person who is a true child of God will enter Heaven, or be helped to prepare for Heaven. Those who have no love for God or their neighbour cannot enter Heaven or Purgatory. Their journey ends in the Abyss.
It is essential that we love God, and love our neighbour. There really will be a Last Judgement, when those who have put their trust in Christ are rewarded and those who were disobedient and rebellious will be sent away to Hell. By our freely-made choices in everyday life we are each moving towards the heights of glory or towards the torments of the damned.
In intercession, it is as if God allows one person to descend on a rope to rescue another person who is stranded in a deep shaft underground. Both are dependent on God, but the one praying is in touch with God and the one waiting to be rescued is on a broken ladder, with no way 'up'.
In intercession, it is as if God allows one person to descend on a rope to rescue another person who is stranded in a deep shaft underground. Both are dependent on God, but the one praying is in touch with God and the one waiting to be rescued is on a broken ladder, with no way 'up'.
There are people today who wrongly say "No, there's no Hell" - thus contradicting Christ. They are unaware that the entrance to Hell is very close to them - ready to receive all who carelessly or passionately embrace evil, and who at death are still apart from God.
If we greet Christ warmly in Holy Communion, we want to see our friends enjoy His love; and we can help them by our prayers, and by 'Christ-within-us' reaching out to include others in His embrace.
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