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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.
The sins and self-love shown in our world cover our world like an all-enveloping cloud. Wherever someone acts in pure charity, it's as if a gap is made in the cloud; and God's light can shine upon earth in a difficult situation, for needy people.
Whenever we intercede for someone, in Jesus' name, it's as though a ray of light and grace from Heaven pierces the dark 'cloud' of sin and self-love over our world, to touch the life of someone in need of help.
When we have died, it is too late to turn to God, if we have died in mortal sin. By our own choice, we will have fixed our 'trajectory'. Those who love God will be carried by His Spirit towards Heaven. Others will fall into Hell, going there through their own decisions.
Many Catholics have no idea of what is really happening at Mass. It is tragic that so many children say that they are bored at Mass. Not having been instructed about the Holy Sacrifice of Christ, they are ignorant of the fact that Christ is truly Present amongst us, praising the Father of Light in the presence of the whole Church. We pray with the Saints and the Holy Souls, and with the Holy Angels.
A person who is trapped in serious sin is like someone trapped on a small ledge, deep down in the Abyss. Only by a short step will she arrive in Hell, one day, unless she repents first. The prayers others offer for her are like a life-line sent down for her to grasp.
A person trapped in sin can benefit from the prayers of other people on her behalf. Through them, God can shine a light on that sinner's life and actions, so she can see things clearly, and decide to change. God is merciful - but some people refuse to act in response to His love.
Through the Church we have everything we need to live as children of God in a sinful world. We even have praise to offer to God our Father which is worthy of Him: praise which is offered by Jesus Christ, Sacramentally Present in our midst, at Mass.
Just as some people can be trapped at the bottom of a deep cavern in the jungle, so we become alienated from God through sin. But if we turn upwards towards the light offered by Christ, he can lift us into freedom.
We are called to be witnesses; to say to other people: Don't sin. Don't enter the 'depths' of sin, which is like a dark cavern below ground - difficult to escape from.
The Father sees everything that happens to us, as we live and work in the 'darkness' of earthly life, as if in a deep cavern, far below Heaven's glory. Yet when we overcome our sins and persevere in difficulties, and share our faith in God, we give joy to God's heart.
Anyone who guides people on a difficult journey must point out the dangers and offer sensible rules of behaviour. A captain must advise against risky behaviour on a ship. Christ has warned us about the risks of sinning, of ignoring Him to lead selfish lives.
When a person lives only to satisfy his appetites, and even treats a child with disdain and cruelty, it is as though he is separated from God by hundreds of miles of impenetrable cloud. It would take a miracle of grace to touch his heart and soul, and change him.
When a person lives only to satisfy his appetites, and even treats a child with disdain and cruelty, it is as though he is separated from God by hundreds of miles of impenetrable cloud. It would take a miracle of grace to touch his heart and soul, and change him.
The Holy Souls in Purgatory undergo an interior cleansing and transformation, as they realise how much time they wasted in earthly life, when they might have shown greater love towards God and their neighbours, in humility and obedience.
A person in mortal sin who refuses to abandon his evil ways is half way down the steps which lead to Hell. By his own choice, he is in a dangerous place. If he dies now, he will 'fall' into Hell; whereas if he repents before death he will be achieve safety on 'high', in a state of grace, with Jesus and Mary.
We have a choice, to descend into sin and Hell, or to follow Christ's Way to Heaven.
It is unlikely that all scientists will be able to resist the temptation to create new forms of human-animal life by immoral means. Since the Fall, unbridled curiosity has led to disobedience to God's laws.
Whether or not the Government forbids the creation of animal-human embryos, it is unlikely that every scientist in the world will resist the temptation to create them. Unbridled curiosity might lead some to undertake experiments.
Since the Fall, human beings have sometimes given in to the desire for unnecessary knowledge. Unbridled curiosity can lead to disobedience to God's laws - especially when young people can easily find pornographic material to devour, and when they have little discipline or sure teaching or guidance in these areas.
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