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If we could see into a tunnel where a train has crashed we would see helpless people, in darkness, in desperate need of outside help; and so it is with people trapped in mortal sin. They are in desperate need of the Divine grace that can bring them to repentance, with new life, hope and joy and forgiveness. They desperately need the prayers of the faithful, to help them.

When we speak up bravely, when appropriate, about sin, and when we offer up our pains and tribulations in union with Jesus, to help others in their trials, and to save souls, we do indeed help them, by the grace of God. It's as if, as we have helped people to avoid sin, we have helped them to avoid a great pit at the centre of their ordinary life, which represents the alienation from God that sinners risk, by their own actions.

When we turn to Christ in prayer, in gratitude for His gifts and graces, all the Saints are close to us, glad to hear our thanks and praise for the One Who has brought them to Heaven. They long for us to find everlasting joy with Him, and help us by their prayers.

In the play called 'Pygmalion', a rich man gave lessons to a poor working girl, and transformed her speech and outlook, and clothing. Christ works an even more marvellous transformation, by His grace acting within a willing soul. He transforms the whole person, leading each to Him, to find security, joy, peace-of-soul and fulfilment in sharing His life, and also to grow in wisdom, purity, courage, hope and charity.

If we are tempted to give in to sadness or anger, but instead, take out the Rosary, and pray for people in great need, we grow in grace, and even save souls by our intercessions - through the grace of Christ and the prayers of His Holy Mother

When Christ is made Really Present, at the Consecration, He prays for the Whole Church, to the Father in the Spirit; yet those who are bodily present gain special graces from being willing to be near their Saviour, in obedience and reverence and love. What great loss is suffered, therefore, by Catholics who are so lazy, or whose faith is so lukewarm, that they rarely take part.

Whenever we turn to Jesus with sincere hearts, He pours out His graces upon us: His power and His spiritual gifts; yet the greater the number of needy people we 'carry' to Him in our hearts, in prayer, the greater the number of graces.

Christ wants us to be certain that when we intercede for needy people, with God the Father, in the name of Christ, we certainly bring down Heaven's help to the down-hearted, even if we cannot see the results, if those people are far away in other parts of the world.

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.

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.

We are wise to ask the Saints for their prayers. They are alive, living in glory, and love to intercede for us with God. As we pray, and work, it's as if by their love and companionship they help to form a fence around us, to protect us from evil, and to encourage us to raise up our hearts and minds to the Blessed Trinity, above.

It is as if the Holy Souls are suspended in God's love, as they move closer to the light, little by little, helped by our prayers, until the moment when each can enter joyfully into Heaven, and share in the blissful life of the Saints, at the heart of the Most Blessed Trinity.

Truly, it is Christ Himself, our Risen Lord, Who is Present with us on All Souls Day, Who raises His hands in prayer, praying to the Father for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, as the priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

It is tragic that so many people have not been baptised. A family which is affectionate but which ignores or disbelieves in God, and has no respect for the Commandments, cannot be saved by qualities of optimism or human warmth - but only by the grace of Christ accepted. They need the prayers of the faithful, that they will open their eyes to the truth which they have never encountered, or have half-heard, and dismissed.

It is not wrong to be prudent, in making decisions about whom to trust. People who show themselves to be habitually untrustworthy are acting in accordance with their current, unpleasant nature, just as a mosquito bites because it is his nature to do so. We must speak with charity, and pray for such people, but need not trust them without some sign of repentance and change.

People in mortal sin are in great need of help, the help which can be brought to them through the prayers of other people. Divine grace can be brought to souls through intercession, just as dramatically as if a life-line were to be suddenly thrown to a person about to be swept over a huge waterfall, to her doom.

We are right to be confident when we ask the Saints of Heaven to pray for us or for people in need. Their prayers rise up like incense to the throne of God, and bring down upon us graces from Heaven. This is especially true when we pray at the shrine of a Saint: a shrine blessed by the Church.

We must never forget how much Christ has changed our lives, through His grace and guidance. Nor must we forget how great is the need for continued evangelisation, as whole communities seem to follow the world's way of selfishness rather than Christ's way of selfless love. People need firm teaching about how we cannot serve two masters. We choose, by our behaviour, to serve God or Satan.

Christ is never indifferent to our pains and sufferings. No-matter how alone we feel, we should believe that He is close by at work to ease our sufferings and to bring us help in the midst of trails. It is as if He has His arms round each individual, holding each one close to His heart.

We are wise to pray for God's help, and to ask for the prayers of Our Lady, so that we will use time well. Those who waste time, spending their lives in acting against God, will end up in Hell with the demons who also act against God - but who hideously mistreat all who are in their power. Christ died to save us. We are foolish if we do not turn to Him for forgiveness, and Divine power.