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Our spiritual Communion, in the Communion of Saints, is like the connection in a conference call. We must keep the transmitter in good order, and the lines open by taking care of our souls. If we refuse to forgive anyone, for example, it's as if we deliberately walk away from God and our friends.
The 'flight' of a soul in prayer, in Divine grace and sweetness, is like the soaring of a swallow, or the swift movement of a dolphin, or a shark gracefully circling, or a Dove descending in simplicity and peace.
The 'flight' of a soul in prayer, in Divine grace and sweetness, is like the soaring of a swallow, or the swift movement of a dolphin, or a shark gracefully circling, or a Dove descending in simplicity and peace.
God is Truth, and when we speak truth to Him in prayer, it pleases Him, and we draw closer to Him, even as we say, perhaps, "I can't cope", or "Nobody loves me", or "I'm addicted", or "I hate those people", or "I'm afraid", or "I'm ashamed to look at you".
God recommends that we pray truthful prayers, such as: I'm afraid, or I can't cope, or I feel unloved, or I am a slave to this habit, or I need your help.
Whenever we pray 'Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit', with a sincere heart, it's as if a sunspot erupts in our hearts, as glory streams up to God, to honour Him and to bring delight to the whole of Heaven.
As gigantic flames leap up from the surface of the sun, so the ardent soul's fervent prayers leap up - as great 'flames' of glory - towards Heaven, whenever we offers sincere words of praise to God. This gives joy to the soul, and joy to Heaven.
From the ardent soul which offers sincere praise to God, great 'flames' of glory leap up to Heaven.
A surgeon who gives a serious diagnosis sometimes has little hope of a cure. A priest who has to 'diagnose' serious sin can offer, as a cure, complete forgiveness and peace to those who sincerely repent!
A surgeon who gives a serious diagnosis sometimes has little hope of a cure. A priest who has to 'diagnose' serious sin can offer, as a cure, complete forgiveness and peace to those who sincerely repent!
Priests should be like Christ, Who invited people to repent of their sins. It is not for priests to act solely as counsellors and comforters, without also speaking the truth about the serious sins which can entrap us.
Catholic priests should indeed give us good advice. Yet their principle purpose in the confessional, in the sacrament of Penance, is to forgive our sins. They are not ordained to be like secular counsellors.
There are martyrs for truth in every age. These three saints - Thomas More, Charles Lwanga and Maria Goretti - stood against sin, and defended the truth of marriage, of morality, and of chastity.
There are martyrs for truth in every age. These three saints - Thomas More, Charles Lwanga and Maria Goretti - stood against sin, and defended the truth of marriage, of morality, and of chastity.
There are martyrs for truth in every age. These three saints - Thomas More, Charles Lwanga and Maria Goretti - stood against sin, and defended the truth of marriage, of morality, and of chastity.
Everything in a priest's life should pale into insignificance when set beside the supreme task of saving souls and leading them towards an everlasting Easter. No personal or private ambition or scheme must intrude.
The Communion of Saints is like a whispering gallery in a Cathedral dome that can unite those far away. Each person can choose to be 'in communion' or to board himself away. Some, half-boarded, are not full members of the Catholic Church, or half-hearted Catholics. Those completely exposed are in communion even if very far apart geographically. Those absent have chosen to live in mortal sin.
It was because so few Catholics knew much about the Faith, or about the stages of the spiritual life, that God taught me so much about our Christ, Who is the living image of Our Father in Heaven and on fire with the same Divine Love.
Christ can see the life of each one of us, from start to finish. Through His omniscience as God, He sees exactly what use we will make of our free-will, and His gifts and graces. He sees the good choices and the bad, and sees all of our reactions to His invitations and interventions. He sees who will reach sanctity.
Christ can see the life of each one of us, from start to finish. Through His omniscience as God, He sees exactly what use we will make of our free-will, and His gifts and graces. He sees the good choices and the bad, and sees all of our reactions to His invitations and interventions. He sees who will reach sanctity.