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A person in mortal sin is like a man on a mountain-side looking into a beautiful valley, towards the City of God, but unable to see a way in. He cannot, by his own power, be restored to a state of grace, or - if he dies - enter Heaven. He needs the help of God, to find forgiveness and salvation.

When in Queen visits a hospital, people use every possible means of showing respect, through their approach, dress, speech, manner, welcome, warmth and gestures: yet how many Catholics use any of these means of showing reverence towards their King: Jesus Christ, Divine King and Savior, Present on the altar and in the tabernacle?

The evil one, like a great serpent, has been thrashing about in fury. Though he tries to drag Christ's people into Hell, Christ has won the entire battle. By the prayers of Christ's Virgin Mother Mary, His followers can arm themselves against Satan's tricks, assaults and temptations.

Long ago, when the evil one dragged down two-thirds of the stars from the sky, he hoped to seize the victory; but Saint Michael defeated the evil one and threw him into the depths.

Those who refuse to obey God and refuse to repent of their sins, and persist in rebellion until death, fall into Hell when they die; and although the smoke still rises up from Hell, we need to remember that Christ has already won the great war between good and evil, and the evil one has been thrown into the depths.

Just as people fleeing from a war-zone might rush to another area that only someone high above can see is also under bombardment, so people who sin and turn away from the self-discipline and sacrifice necessary for followers of Christ can find themselves on a new road, which does not lead to peace, but to even worse turmoil - in Hell, if they do not repent before they die.

Satan is a liar. Satan clearly disguises temptations, so that sinful behaviour is made to seem attractive and safe, when in reality it is like following a pathway which leads to doom: a path through an attractive entrance, but which soon slopes downwards, to Hell.

There is not one person in a whole town or country who will escape judgement. God is kind and merciful; but everyone, at death, will have to account for his or her behaviour during earthly life, and proceed towards Heaven or, by their own choices - towards Hell. Everyone will be judged: Housewives, doctors, engineers, cleaners, politicians, models, schoolboys... no-one can opt out.

Those who really love God, and who are 'children of God', and who remain faithful until death, can expect a warm greeting from God when they die, even if some purification is still necessary. If a grandmother on earth reacts with delight as her little grandson reaches out in love to embrace her, does not God our Father greet with delight each of the 'children of God' - brothers and sisters of Christ - Whom He had invited to come home to Heaven and who have accepted?

A person who deliberately commits grave sin, perhaps through becoming resentful or bored in the 'long haul' of ordinary life in Christ's service, is as foolish as a climber who lets go of his rope, in order to move towards something attractive seen in the distance. As a climber falls to his doom, unless by a miracle he is caught in mid-air, it takes a miracle of grace for someone in mortal sin to be converted, and saved.

There are two thoughts that can comfort those who grow weary of the long 'climb' towards sanctity and salvation; first, Heaven, and a wonderful welcome, awaits all who persevere; furthermore, nothing can break the 'rope' we climb. It is Jesus, true God, Who made the Way - the rope - by coming to earth and returning to Heaven. Our part is to keep climbing and not to let go.

In the whole history of God's plan of salvation, a new corner was turned in the road when Christ was conceived, and born of Mary, and then in adult life walked towards the Cross, and the death He would offer up as atonement for our sins: the death by which He would make salvation possible for all who trust in Him.

When Christ is made Really Present, at the Consecration, He prays for the Whole Church, to the Father in the Spirit; yet those who are bodily present gain special graces from being willing to be near their Saviour, in obedience and reverence and love. What great loss is suffered, therefore, by Catholics who are so lazy, or whose faith is so lukewarm, that they rarely take part.

We cannot avoid difficult topics in discussing the faith; yet it is important to be aware, when speaking of subjects such as death, that we do not know the dreams, fears and past experiences of each listener. Some might have had dreadful experiences of the illnesses and deaths of friends or relations; and this colours their attitudes and even alters their belief. Sensitivity is essential.

Catholics who make marriage vows or religious vows and live in love, and chastity, are on a straight road towards Heaven. But all who commit unchaste acts or develop unchaste relationships are causing a disaster for themselves and for any others involved, distressing all onlookers. They halt their progress to Heaven as surely as a lorry, crashed into the central barrier, has halted its delivery of goods.

When we greet Christ carelessly in Holy Communion we treat Him, our God, with a dreadful lack of respect, even worse than when people show disrespect towards a Monarch in earthly life by casual or rude behaviour. Our God, coming to our hearts, deserves to be greeted with humility, reverence, joy and gratitude.

We are right to honour the Ever-Virgin Mother of God. Christ is delighted when we remember that the Blessed Virgin Mary is a real, warm-hearted, living person, the Mother of Jesus, now beside Him in Heaven. She loves us and prays for us, as our Mother. We should not treat her merely as a symbol of good values, or as a type, or an emblem, mascot or figurehead or object. We should honour her for her person, her faithfulness and her exalted role.

It is an outrage, in God's sight, and it saddens the Heart of Christ, whenever Catholics behave badly in church as if at closing time in a pub - even when they should be waiting in reverent silence for the start of a First Communion Mass for a member of the family. They show no reverence towards God, and set a poor example to the child, when prayer is necessary.

We do not always realise how powerfully we affect others, for good, when we witness unashamedly about the kindness and goodness of Christ. We can powerfully encourage and help individuals; and we should be aware that it's as if we warm Christ's heart by our love, and our desire to see Him loved.

A person who neglects his own soul by neglecting prayer and the sacraments, becoming lukewarm towards his Saviour and lukewarm or cold towards his neighbour, has a soul like a neglected road. Without care or repair, a road soon decays, to become riddled with potholes, covered in weeds, stones, dead branches and puddles.