Search Page

The moral effects of war are horrific. Those who fight can become hard-hearted, and the victims who though perhaps innocent, can become full of bitterness and hatred.

By the mercy of God, the souls in Purgatory can bewail their pride, or greed, or lukewarm belief, or whatever has caused them, though believers, to be ill-prepared for death.

A person who lives in selfish isolation, with a cold-hearted stance towards others, nevertheless benefits from the kind acts by which others reach out in charity. Kind people with the 'fuel' or 'fire' of love, help to keep that soul alive in his self-chosen winter.

When priest and people all face in the same direction at Mass, they are all looking together, towards the Father, to praise Him through Christ.

When priest and people all face in the same direction at Mass, they are all looking together, towards the Father, to praise Him through Christ.

Each of us must 'climb' to Heaven in faith, hope and love, if we wish to reach glory, and avoid the smoke of Hell which lies below. With humility we can hope to persevere to the end, and to avoid lukewarmness, despair or self-satisfaction.

A soul who is absorbed in itself, devoid of warmth towards its fellow creatures, is in a dangerous state. It resembles the frozen wastes of the Arctic, where there is little life or joy or hope.

Christ is swift to comfort us in our difficulties. In Holy Communion, He rushes to wrap us in His love, with tenderness and deep concern, just as a rescuer rushes towards an abandoned child, to cover her in a warm blanket and hold her close to himself.

When people accept God's call, and approach Him, some halt soon afterwards, being afraid that He will ask them to do uncongenial tasks, or make sacrifices they don't want to make. They do not really open their hearts to Him in prayer, for the same reason, and picture the Godhead as a massive fortress or walled city, with an open door they do not want to enter. They do not discover, therefore, all the joys and delights found inside by God's friends.

If we claim to be walking on a path towards Heaven, how many unnecessary things on the way are distracting or corrupting us?

The journey from life to death is like being on a cable-car between two mountains. Sometimes, mid-journey, we seem to be making little progress; but if we persevere in faith, we can trust that amazing things are happening, and that we are moving slowly towards our final destination with God.

The journey from life to death is like being on a cable-car between two mountains. Sometimes, mid-journey, we seem to be making little progress; but if we persevere in faith, we can trust that amazing things are happening, and that we are moving slowly towards our final destination with God.

The journey from life to death is like being on a cable-car between two mountains. Sometimes, mid-journey, we seem to be making little progress; but if we persevere in faith, we can trust that amazing things are happening, and that we are moving slowly towards our final destination with God.

We distance ourselves from Christ by our carelessness and lukewarmness.

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.

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.

Sacred Liturgy is like a river of praise which pours from the Church, upwards towards God in Eternity; and our own personal intentions to praise God with Christ and the Church flow into that 'river', reach Heaven, and give glory to the Father.

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 commit grievous sin is like climbing down towards Hell, where the suffering of unrepentant sinners is so great that it can be pictured as 'fire', in which the demons wait for new victims to torment.