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No-one was closer to Jesus than His Holy Mother Mary, the Blessed Virgin. He was immensely comforted in His Passion - even in the dungeon overnight - by the love which He experienced from His Mother, in spirit.

Jesus suffered in body and soul, and we need not feel guilty if we do not 'feel' fervent and joyful in our difficulties, as long as we are actively trying to do God's Will, and to remain faithful.

How embarrassed we would be if the sins we commit were to appear as stains on our 'outside', like dirty stains on our clothes. Christ wants us to realise that He sees, at every moment, all the sins we have committed and have not yet confessed. He wants us to be made clean, and joyful, through repentance and confession.

No-one would want to walk down the aisle in a badly stained garment for everyone to see. Yet many people walk down the aisle, for Holy Communion, with their souls covered in huge 'stains' - which Jesus can see - the stains of unrepented sins.

A bride is horrified at seeing a stain on her dress, and we should also avoid having 'stains' on our souls, through serious sin, as we go up to receive Holy Communion.

Imagine how embarrassed a bride would be, whose dress had been stained by a spilled drink, and who then thought about her walk towards the altar. Similarly, everyone who approaches the altar to receive Holy Communion needs to think about their present state. Is there a large 'stain' on their soul, from serious sin, which makes them unfit to approach to receive Christ their Saviour?

Although we cannot see our sins, Jesus can see them. Imagine how embarrassed we would be if our wrong-doing were made plain by large stains on us, exteriorly. If we are wise, we will repent, and ask for the grace to change, to banish the 'stains' of sin that are visible to Our Lord.

A bride is horrified at seeing a stain on her dress, and we should also avoid having 'stains' on our souls, through serious sin, as we go up to receive Holy Communion.

The whole of the Catholic faith is contained in the Missal and celebrated in the Liturgy

The whole of the Catholic faith is contained in the Missal and celebrated in the Liturgy

The whole of the Catholic faith is contained in the Missal and celebrated in the Liturgy

The Catholic way of life consists of love and obedience. Without love, we become self-satisfied by our obedience. Without obedience to God's Will, we 'fall' into self-will. With both, we resemble Christ our Saviour.

Just as a mother distracts a child with something 'good' before removing a dangerous object, so God gives good gifts to the Church through Radiant Light, and other new ecclesial movements, as a prelude to 'removing' poor catechesis, cowardly preaching, and other spiritual dangers very widespread today.

When people ask the way, it is kind to tell the truth; for example, to explain if they are in a cul-de-sac. So it is in the life of faith. Those who ask questions of us deserve a clear answer about the best Way to travel in order to find God and Heaven and Eternal Joy. It is helpful to offer a free map.

We are not all called to full-time missionary work; but we should all hope to share our Faith by example and sometimes words. Brave Catholics, called by God to share the Faith boldly, are like charitable people who are willing to hand out maps, free, to passers by, because so many people do not take the road to the City of God, but the wrong road, into a cul-de-sac, in which they will never meet their King and Creator.

We have a living relationship with the Saints who have died, so we should talk with them, ask for their prayers, treasure their feast days, honour them through their relics and shrines and statues, and follow their example.

We have a living relationship with the Saints who have died, so we should talk with them, ask for their prayers, treasure their feast days, honour them through their relics and shrines and statues, and follow their example.

Christ wants us to pay attention to the Saints: to their living relationship with us, their feast days, shrines, relics and statues. We should treasure these as we treasure what connects us with earthly family and friends. We could ask the Saints for their prayers, with confidence in their love and God's goodness.

It is a tragedy that some parents or spouses, through neglect or cynicism, do little to encourage faith in those close to them. How terrible to be unable to enter Heaven together, with family members among the damned.

Married people should help each other to become holy so that they do not spend Eternity separated, with only one going to Heaven.