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It is not always enough to pray for someone in trouble. It might be more charitable to reach out and hold someone and pull him towards safety - moral or physical - if he himself is too weak to make much effort.

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.

The blessed soul who has persevered to the end, in love of Christ and her neighbour, is led by the hand by Christ, to meet the Heavenly friends who are gathered to welcome her into their company. Like them, she now wears a 'wedding garment': a white robe.

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.

At the end of time, Christ who rose from the dead in glory will judge all people. How fortunate will be those 'little ones' who have loved Him, and loved all who are weak, hungry, persecuted and slandered.

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.

The Lord wants us to keep alive the hope of Heaven. We are not all meant to be busy campaigning about great causes. He is grateful when faithful people love Him and remain faithful to their ordinary duties and to prayer, and are kind to their families and friends.

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.

To intercede for someone trapped in grave sin is like holding out a hand to a man trapped on a broken ladder, with only Hell below.

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.

Those who strive for perfect union with God strive to know His Will, to love it, to desire the same good ends, to love what God loves, and to be one with Him in everything. It's as if what at first appeared to be a row of separate buildings are actually joined together, perfectly aligned, so that there is movement from one part into the other, at the top, with perfect ease.

As I pray to the Father, in Jesus' name, in the Spirit, asking for help for someone in need, I can be certain that Jesus too prays for that praiseworthy intention, with His whole attention, and His Spirit's love and power.

When a friend of Christ receives Him in Holy Communion, yet is too sick and weary to pray, she can be sure that Christ is 'holding' her in His loving care just as He would hold a sick child.