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Christ came to earth, to be born in poverty, for our sakes; yet we need to feast as well as to fast in His Church. We feast on His birthday, for example, in preparation for the Eternal feasting which takes place in Heaven, in an eternal celebration of His Love.

God receives the greatest honour when the priest's supreme desire at Mass is to give glory to Him through a reverent offering of the Holy Sacrifice. A good priest also wishes to edify the congregation, but he recognises that the Mass is God's act: infinitely powerful and effective no matter how well or badly the participants prepare and take part.

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.

Christ is Present in the tabernacle, ready to greet those who have chosen to be near Him; but at the end of time everyone will be near Him, willingly or not - waiting to be judged. If people are reminded of this, they might alter their behaviour, while there is time.

Only by the power poured down from Heaven to faithful souls, and through the work done by them to spread the Good News and to make reparation for sin, can the violence and slaughter in the world be overcome, as Heaven rejoices in every success in the war against violence and evil.

The Lord showed me that Heaven is like a circular area full of Divine glory, occupied by the Three Divine Persons and the Angels and Saints. Christ and His holy Mother want to greet new arrivals, which is why each of us needs to ask himself: "Am I ready to enter?"

Each of us can picture himself as standing at the 'edge' of Heaven, near the steps that lead up to Christ and Our Blessed Lady, who are surrounded by the Saints. Each of us can ask: Am I ready to enter? Do I now lead a life of purity, love and peace?

If we want to help ourselves to think about our readiness for Heaven, we can do as Christ asks, and picture ourselves as standing at the foot of the steps which lead to the Father's throne in Heaven - as if we stand with our head through a fake landscape, at the seaside. Then we can ask ourselves, of Heaven: "Am I ready to enter?"

There is a place not far from Heaven, called Purgatory, where people arrive to prepare for Heaven. It is as if they finally take off their dirty rags, and are re-clothed like royalty; then they process to their seats, wearing crowns, to join the Saints above - through the love and mercy of God Who rewards all who die in a state of grace.

God sees, from Heaven, every thought, word and deed of ours. He looks at us with love, even when we sin; yet we need to ask ourselves: "Is this something that should be brought before him? Is it worthy of Heaven?"

God sees, from Heaven, every thought, word and deed of ours. He looks at us with love, even when we sin; yet we need to ask ourselves: "Is this something that should be brought before him? Is it worthy of Heaven?"

A woman in Purgatory exclaims: 'Oh God, if only I had known'. She wished she had believed more firmly that God is real, and that sin should be abandoned, and that it's important to prepare for Heaven.

Some of the 'roads' we travel in the Lord's service seem unending; yet we need to be prepared for sudden surprises and changes which He has arranged for us. It's as if we travel through mile upon mile of forest, then are awestruck when the Grand Canyon comes into view.

It is a terrible moment, when a person who dies meets God, and admits that he had been put on earth to love and serve God, and find true joy in Him, yet had spent most of his life totally ignoring God, and His Son, and His Church, and His wishes.

When Christ 'visits the sick' through the Blessed Sacrament being brought by a priest or extraordinary minister of communion to a sick person, He is delighted to know that, out of love for Him, some Catholics make reverent practical and spiritual preparations.

Though we must pray and work to help the needy all over the world, we must keep our thoughts also on Heaven, lest we become despondent, forgetting the glory and joy that await God's friends. Yet we must think, too, about our preparation. Only the pure and holy are ready to enter.

Christ brushed my shoulder, as He assured me that our minor failings are like little bits of dust on a smart suit, as we approach Him for Holy Communion. The important thing is to be properly clothed. The suit represents the 'state of grace' we should be in.

Christ strode joyfully around the 'room' that is my own soul, and explained that it has been truly 'well-swept' by my sincere confession yesterday and my new resolutions, in preparation for His Birthday, on the feast of Christmas.