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People who are trapped in a particular sin or sinful way of life are as if walking through a great fog, unable to see their steps clearly. When we help them by our prayers and sacrifices, we help to clear away the fog, and enable some to see the Abyss into which they might have fallen, had they continued in their sins.
Christ is our Creator, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Because of His sincere love for us, we can be sure that whenever He has seen someone suffer - especially the martyrs - it has almost broken His heart to see it, though it has been necessary as part of the victory over evil.
Christ our Saviour is touched to heart - deeply touched - by all the suffering He sees. Every person who suffers, even those whose sufferings were caused by their own fault, can be certain of Christ's sympathy and compassion. Even when people are not healed, they should believe that Christ can bring good out of evil.
Once Christ had become a man, we learned how precious is humanity to God. We are all brothers and sisters to Christ and to one another; and each of us should treat others with respect, as Christ treated people in His earthly life-time.
Christ came down from Heaven to earth, as if through many miles of mist and obscurity, until He was born of Mary, in an obscure little stable, with only His Mother and St. Joseph to protect Him. Jesus is only 'found' today by people who approach Him in simplicity and humility.
The little child who was born of Mary is the Divine Saviour Who is worthy of all the glory we can offer Him today in our churches. In crossing the threshold we are in a sacred space, consecrated for the praise of the Blessed Trinity. What God always wants to see in our hearts is the simplicity and humility which were in the heart of the infant Jesus.
Despite their pain and remorse, the Holy Souls in Purgatory are happy to know of the great feasts of the Church, such as Christmas. They know that their present safety is due to the life of Christ, born on earth to die for our sins. They pray with us at every Mass, in and through Christ their Saviour.
The Lord lifted my soul up high. He showed me that He cannot refuse the prayers offered by the Mother of God, Mary for her needy children. He showed me that she was straight away consoling a despondent person on earth, to give him great hope.
We are not wrong to be saddened by the sloppy and careless behaviour we often witness at Mass, which is a meeting of Heaven and earth in which honour is given to the Father, through Christ, in the Spirit. The Blessed Trinity deserves to receive the best we can offer.
When there has been a death, or a tragedy for the nation, it is important that all who mourn, or work for justice, or show sympathy for others, or demonstrate for change, open their hearts to the influence of the Holy Spirit, and refuse entry to the spirit of hatred, lies and malice which is Satan.
No matter how people die, whether of sickness, old age, or in what seem like accidents or freak storms or earthquakes, no-one leaves this life one second earlier or later than the time appointed by God the Father, Who governs all things and all people.
No-one dies and leaves earthly life at a moment that has occurred by accident. No-one leaves earthly life one second before or after the moment decreed by the Father, Who loves us all and governs our lives, and the whole Universe.
The Reason for Christmas: Christ was born on earth, God made man, because human beings were trapped in their sins, since the sins of our first parents. We could not save ourselves, but were like people behind a barred window, captive on a sinking ocean liner.
Christ is the Saviour Who appeared on earth, to deliver us from our sins and from the fear of death. His arrival has been greeted by many who recognise their plight, just as a man in a small boat would be welcomed by people on a doomed ship such as the Titanic.
The Lord advised me to approach my 'Last Judgement' picture just as I approach a domestic task. If I need new tablecloths I measure the table, choose the fabric and make decisions about my time. In the same way, with a huge painting to do, I can simply measure, prepare, reflect, and take one step at a time.
Whether people die of natural causes, or disease, or in earthquakes, or explosions, or in apparent accidents on bridges, ships or motor vehicles, each person will be judged on his life and behaviour. Each of us should ask: "Where will I end up going?" - that is to say, to Heaven or Hell?
For as long as life on earth endures there will always be demons gibbering in the darkness, trying to drag souls into sin. Whoever calls out to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, Mary, and asks for her prayers, will receive grace from God and be drawn towards the light of Heaven.
A person whose heart and soul is numb with lack of faith or despondency is like a person sitting covered with ice in a snow-bound landscape. The only solution is to let Divine Love into his heart, and to take a new look at his life.
Like figures In a wintery landscape, we see all around us persons who remain frozen by despondency or lack of faith. Those who would allow Divine Love to enter their hearts would 'thaw'. They would repent of their immorality, and begin to notice all that is good, which God has given to them but which they ignore.
Christ came from Heaven as a man: a fire of Divine Love, embodied. His presence 'melted' and changed some people, who enjoyed a new and glorious life; but other people had no desire to allow Him to 'thaw' their frozen hearts and cold souls, and reacted to Him with anger.
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