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God has permitted capital punishment at certain times, for grave crimes. Yet the human race has been in such a dire state of sinfulness, since the Original Sin, that in whatever era of history Christ might have come to earth to speak the truth about sin and salvation, He would have been persecuted, and then killed by whatever method was usual at the time, despite His innocence.

Although the Saints are all different in personal aptitudes, circumstances, physical appearance and skills, they have all been totally committed to Christ's Way of love and sanctity, in a spirit of humility and trust, as each - perhaps after a bad start - has led a chaste life, spoken the truth, and been gentle and forgiving towards enemies.

Prayer and penance, faith and love, are essential. A person who hopes to reach the highest stages of the spiritual life, and Heaven, whilst ill-prepared and ill-disciplined, and self-centered in his opinions and plans is like a man who declares that he will climb Mount Everest by his own methods, and who sets out ill-equipped, and wearing flip-flops on his feet.

Although some people expected the Saviour to appear on earth as a triumphant warrior, He came to earth to a quite place: into the womb of a chaste, gentle virgin who consented to be His Mother. He was with her, in ordinary life, for over thirty years. He longs to see us develop the virtues which His Mother had from her Conception.

Many people today are oblivious to the spiritual warfare which is taking place today. Like two women in a café, chatting as horsemen charge past them, in battle array, many people are blind to the war between good and evil.

A child who has a mother and a father who are married to one another, in a stable marriage, has an admirable start in life. There is 'imprinted' in the child the idea of family life, as God Wills it; and it is therefore easier for the child to appreciate the Will of God for society - and related teachings of the Church.

The power given to us in Baptism can draw us up to holiness and Heaven; but we can be hampered from 'flight' by these attachments: timidity in sharing our Faith, worrying about what people think our about particular vocation, concern for physical comfort, or neglect of everyday duties. The last 'string' to be cut is death.

There is no greater way of showing love and honour towards God than by sincerely saying to Him: "What would you like me to do?" meaning "Here I am Lord; I come to do Your Will, not to fulfil my ambitions". God's Will includes the fulfilment of the duties of our state of life - out of love for Him and for His for our Saviour.

How many souls have guarded the walls of God's kingdom within their souls? How many have not only let in the smoke and stench of worldly attitudes but even the enemy himself, the evil one, who now sits enthroned in that soul, gleefully surveying each unholy life and its activities? Very many have done so.

My soul is like a holy Temple within me, where God the Most Holy Trinity dwells. I can withdraw into that holy place whenever the worldly clamour grows too loud, or whenever I want to praise and pray to the Lord: to Jesus, or the Father or the Holy Spirit.

It is important to maintain a state of grace. Christ reminds us that the soul is a holy place, because of the Divine indwelling. We can withdraw into that place whenever the clamour 'outside' is too loud, as we work for Christ's Kingdom; and we shall find peace, comfort and refreshment, even when we are in the public eye.

It is a fearsome thing, to take a person's life. But some who loudly criticise the 'God of the Bible' for his punishments think nothing of the fact that thousands of innocent babies are slaughtered in the womb, every year, in one country, and many more elsewhere.

Many of the Clergy are content to encourage their flocks in doing good; yet they neglect those people by failing to warn them of the grievous consequences of deliberate rejection of God, the Church or the Commandments. Falsely supposing that a man will be saved, no matter what sort of life he has led, they never mention Eternal suffering in Hell

We can usually see little on a flight. Just as when, on an aircraft, we have little glimpses of bright fields or snowy mountains, so, in the spiritual life, God allows us 'glimpses' of spiritual joys, because He knows one of our greatest dangers is discouragement, and wants us to know that we are on our way to Heaven.

Just as, on an aircraft, the flight is endangered if someone becomes so angry that he attacks the pilot or breaks a window, so, in the spiritual life, a person who commits a mortal sin risks missing a safe landing, and even entering a state which is indescribably painful.

Many good followers of Christ seem to live in a bright 'cloud', in the spiritual life, which prevents them from seeing or hearing their beloved Lord. He allows this, for their souls' sakes, to help them grow in faith. If they persevere, they will experience a 'birth' into the joy and glory of known union.

The Godhead is like a bright cloud which loving people can enter, in prayer. For those who yearn for entry, but who fail to care for their neighbour in earthly life, there seems to be no way 'in': no possibility of union in contemplation, unless they first learn how to love.

Our Father in Heaven denies to no-one the opportunity to know Christ, and to receive the gift of Heaven. Whether in earthly life, or at the moment of death, each person in our village hears the truth; but many say: 'To join the Church would be inconvenient', or 'To serve God will cause me trouble', or 'Life is too short to make sacrifices'. They forget the purpose of life - and our destination, which will be, eventually, Heaven or Hell.

It is a special honour, to be the mother of a priest: an honour which Christ intends from the beginning of a woman's life, as He leads her onto the right path, so that her example of faith can help her son.

By turning to Christ our God, in prayer, it is as if we can touch, in His Godhead, as in a great cloud, each of the events of His earthly life, including all the sufferings of His Passion.