Search Page
Showing 461 - 480 of 1372
God created all that lives and breathes - even sharks and tarantulas, and other creatures that kill. Yet everything shows out some facet of His nature - such as the beauty and single-mindedness of a shark - or the extent of His creative power, in the amazing creatures, colours and varieties of means of motion.
After the Consecration, we can be certain that Christ is Present amongst us: Christ Who died on the Cross, praying for sinners, and Who is Present now, praying for us in our day, and offering the same sacrifice.
A person who repents of sin, goes to Confession, receives absolution, prays and offers penance as the Church requests, and who perseveres in love and service, is eventually drawn into the life and prayer of the Holy Trinity, as if spiralling in a heavenly dance of delight, in known and blissful union.
Those who, at the end of a sinful life, refuse to repent, cannot rise up to Heaven, but must 'fall' far below, into Hell. It is like a terrible prison from which there is no escape.
A faithful, humble person who has tried to please Her Saviour can die in peace, saying to herself: "I have tried to live as a good friend of Christ. I am sorry for my sins and failings. I put my trust in Him. There is no need to be afraid". She can die, hoping for Heaven.
A faithful, humble person who has tried to please Her Saviour can die in peace, saying to herself: "I have tried to live as a good friend of Christ. I am sorry for my sins and failings. I put my trust in Him. There is no need to be afraid". She can die, hoping for Heaven.
All of those little children who have died and who were free from personal sin - whether they were miscarried, aborted, delivered alive but then soon died, or lived severely handicapped and incapable of choice - are now happy. They are at peace, close to the Father's heart, without any pain.
All of those little children who have died and who were free from personal sin - whether they were miscarried, aborted, delivered alive but then soon died, or lived severely handicapped and incapable of choice - are now happy. They are at peace, close to the Father's heart, without any pain.
Behind the laws of the universe, and the orderly instincts by which creatures are guided to nest, mate and rear their young, we can discern the great Mind which is wise and powerful enough - since it is God's mind - to guide and help every human being.
If we are careless or uncharitable in some of our 'patterns' of thinking, speaking or acting, or just copy ways of behaviour picked up from our childhood models - we may have no malice, but still act in foolish ways, not realising how little we resemble Christ.
The soul of someone who lives in unrepented, serious sin - particularly if involved in pornography - is like a filthy room, full of dust, grime, rotten food, spilt drinks, excrement, cobwebs, and broken glass. There are rats scampering around in the mess. People who repent and change have some hope of saving their souls.
The soul of someone who lives in unrepented, serious sin - particularly if involved in pornography - is like a filthy room, full of dust, grime, rotten food, spilt drinks, excrement, cobwebs, and broken glass. There are rats scampering around in the mess. People who repent and change have some hope of saving their souls.
It is God's plan that man and woman marry, and have children, since He said "Be fruitful". A person who claims that a woman can 'marry' a woman, or a man 'marry' a man, are looking at life as if through distorted glasses.
Some priests want to follow their vocation on their own terms. There are warning signs to be seen, when a priest is in danger of preaching his own version of the Faith, and not the Faith in its fullness as handed on since the time of Christ. These signs are a lack of respect for the Pope, contempt for the Catechism, combined with an unhealthy acceptance of serious sin in the lives of his flock.
Christ brought to my mind the image of St. Peter, in my local church, saying: St. Peter did not let the memory of his own failures stop him from preaching repentance to other people. Christ asked me not to let the memory of my own sins hold me back from prayer and brave words by which I can help others to repent of their bad behaviour and find peace in and with Christ.
We are right to do penance for our sins, especially in the season of Lent. But if we fail in our efforts, we must not become despondent. Our Divine Saviour, Who can forgive the most evil acts of a repentant sinner can certainly forgive us, if by carelessness or greed we act to indulge ourselves in little ways.
Just as a chef is kind to his trainee when he reminds him that he has forgotten to put eggs in his sponge mixture, so we speak from charity, not from hard-heartedness, when we give people precise instructions about the Faith, and tell them what behaviour is sinful in the sight of God.
It is a terrible thing, that people in many parts of the world are enslaved by other human beings. The worst sort of slavery, however, in God's sight, is enslavement to sin, because, in it, people are in danger of losing not just earthly joy but Eternal happiness, if they do not repent.
Just as Jesus came silently through a locked door to be with His friends in the Upper Room, and to bring them courage and joy, so He comes silently to us when we put our trust in Him, and pray sincerely: and we receive His peace and encouragement.
Two people can look at the same scene, and one feels horror - knowing a murderer is prowling around, while the other sees only the breeze blowing in the curtains - as the sun shines down. So it was, on earth, for Christ in His life-time here. There was much beauty in the world, but He came across many damaged souls, and knew that Satan was always prowling around, doing evil.
Showing 461 - 480 of 1372