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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.
The Catholic Church teaches the glorious truth that, in the past, God reached out to human beings in various ways; in the future, He will reward all who have remained faithful; and in the present moment He remains with His Church, guides us through the Pope and other Catholic Bishops, and is Present with us through Jesus's sacramental Presence.
At the end of his purification in Purgatory, this happy soul soared upwards towards Heaven like a swimmer launching himself upwards towards the surface of the ocean, in order to reach for the shore.
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.
To love Christ, to know Him, to depend on Him, and to trust in Him in every circumstance is to allow Him to fill one's life with His light, which can radiate outwards to enlighten other people.
It is possible to bear constant heartache 'side-by-side' with spiritual joy, as Jesus Himself experienced in earthly life. His heart ached whenever people showed misunderstanding or malice towards Him, yet He remained in blissful union with the Father.
Christ promised huge rewards for all who leave 'houses, lands or children' for His sake; and His promise holds true today, for all who put their trust in Him and believe what He has said on this subject of consecrated virginity or celibacy.
The Saints of Heaven are aware of the problem of sin. They pray that we will turn to Christ, put our trust in Him, and find grace to be worthy, when our work is done, to enter Heaven and join them.
Christ commended me for my efforts to pray every prayer - even grace before meals - with greater reverence, recollection and gratitude, and an awareness of the holiness of Him to Whom I speak.
No imagery can convey the horror of separation, in Hell, from the Source of all love and joy. There is no hope of release, for those who have wilfully chosen, until death, to ignore God's warnings.
A Christian marriage, lived as it should be lived, is like a lamp set on a hill, for society; a sacramental union full of grace. It provides a loving home for children who are not rejected by contraceptive use or abortion; it is a place of care for elderly relations, provides warmth for the lonely, and is an example to all of love and compassion.
A Christian marriage, lived as it should be lived, is like a lamp set on a hill, for society; a sacramental union full of grace. It provides a loving home for children who are not rejected by contraceptive use or abortion; it is a place of care for elderly relations, provides warmth for the lonely, and is an example to all of love and compassion.
A Christian marriage, lived as it should be lived, is like a lamp set on a hill, for society; a sacramental union full of grace. It provides a loving home for children who are not rejected by contraceptive use or abortion; it is a place of care for elderly relations, provides warmth for the lonely, and is an example to all of love and compassion.
Christ comforted me by drawing up my soul towards Heaven and showing me the company of Saints. They look with amazement, He said, and gladness, when they see any of us act in obedience, and love for Christ.
As my heart aches now, Christ told me, so His heart ached, when in His earthly lifetime He saw people ignore His wise words and refuse to follow the Way to Heaven. He watched as they walked towards damnation.
Many Catholics today, who do not believe in all the teachings of the Church, paint a caricature of the era before the Last Council. They say that the laity did nothing but 'pay, pray and obey', but seem unaware of how much Christ admires people who lead prayerful, humble and obedient lives, in any age.
Many Catholics today, who do not believe in all the teachings of the Church, paint a caricature of the era before the Last Council. They say that the laity did nothing but 'pay, pray and obey', but seem unaware of how much Christ admires people who lead prayerful, humble and obedient lives, in any age.
Just as a kind mother rarely scolds a child if he is unwell, or worried about his school exams, so Christ is especially tender and helpful towards us when He sees us struggling to cope with special trials.
A person in turmoil is wise if he turns to the Father in Heaven, and believes in his love. If he prays, he will be led to the right Way; and if he follows it, though it takes him through dark times, he will be moving towards the light of Heaven with a new hope in his heart.
If we give Christ a warm welcome in Holy Communion, then talk with Him, it's as if we invite Him into a kitchen for a happy meeting. Those who receive but ignore Him are like people who grudgingly open a kitchen door, and who say: "Come in; but I'm busy. I can't talk".
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