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Someone whose faith is lukewarm, and whose practice of the Faith is careless and sporadic, is like the woman in the novel who grew old whilst dressed for her wedding, as the cobwebs and dust slowly covered her table and her life, trapping her in past dreams. Worst of all is a priest whose heart is dead and ministry fruitless.

If we are ever overwhelmed by shame about our past lives, tempted to be despondent even though we are loved and forgiven, we can be sure that Christ wants us to remember His Apostles. Even Peter and others sinned - yet were chosen by God for His work.

Christ blesses us and gives us peace and security.

Even when Catholics in England are looked upon as being different from 'ordinary' people, as the Amish are in the USA, we must still persevere in our faithfulness to the Church and God's laws.

The Lord told me the when I find myself in X-ray departments and operating theatres I must look upon them as my venues for mission, given to me by God, just as certain towns and places were shown to the Apostles, for them to evangelise by their words and example. I can show out the joy of Christ, even in trouble and pain.

The Lord gave me a glimpse of our beautiful village, which He has allowed me to enjoy amidst many years of pain. Then He showed me an even greater beauty on high, 'above' the village. I saw Heaven's glory, and all the Saints who live in God, in joy.

It is a terrible moment, when a person who dies meets God, and admits that he had been put on earth to love and serve God, and find true joy in Him, yet had spent most of his life totally ignoring God, and His Son, and His Church, and His wishes.

Truly, I have a tremendous dignity (the Lord explained) as a practicing Catholic in a state of grace who can be confident of my every prayer being heard and answered. It's as if my arms reach out to Heaven, as the Father holds out His arms to greet me.

The happy group of friends at the party gave joy to God through their grace before the meal, their faithfulness to marriage and to friendship, their love of God's gifts of laughter, food, drink and music, as men and women together celebrated a birthday and therefore life itself, which is a gift - from God.

We need to maintain an inner peace at every provocation. If we are attacked, let us remember that Christ was followed and pestered by people who were determined to annoy Him, or to trap Him into some unwise or inflammatory answer.

Christ showed me that when He looks at me when I am suffering, it is as if He is looking with love at a little child; and His only desire is to help me and give me inner peace, and comfort and joy.

God greets a cry of love from one of His 'children' with the delight felt by an earthly father who hears a cry of love from his little child. Truly, we delight God by our loving exclamations of gratitude and praise.

How sad it is, in an earthly home, when a child disobeys, grumbles, shouts, stamps, sulks, and lacks gratitude. That it what it is like in the 'family' of the Church when members grumble about attending Mass, disobey God's laws, contradict Church teachings and gossip about the Clergy.

As corn is cut whether by a sickle or a machine, so wherever prayer is offered to God the Father in the name of Jesus, His Son, by sincere people, such prayer honours Him; and it brings blessings upon those who offer it - whether at formal gatherings or in small private groups, or individuals.

The best prayer is that which is offered through Christ, in the Sacred Liturgy. Yet as God gazes upon the world with love He notices with delight each 'spark' of prayer offered by people who believe in Him as their Creator and Judge and Goal.

Christ is touched to the heart by every sign of devotion to Him in His Passion, which He endured out of love for us all. He wants us to pray to Him, even if the image in our hearts or the knowledge in our hearts is not perfectly accurate. The Sacred Liturgy is supremely important for prayer, but we should encourage everyone, of every faith, to trust in God and to turn to Him in prayer.

It is true that the Lord sometimes sends special 'messengers' from amongst the laity to give praise or warnings from God, to priests and Bishops; the Lord also sends a 'special messenger' to the Bishops when He gives them a Pope of the quality of Benedict XVI, who is well-known for his orthodoxy and for his kindness to individuals.

Each of us is on our way towards Heaven or Hell. By our own free decision, we are moving closer to God or away from Him. We need to look at everything in our lives, and ask ourselves: "Does this help me to achieve sanctity, or hinder me?"

Some of our attempts to attract young people to Mass are unnecessary or even foolish. It is the living memorial of the Sacrifice of Christ; and if they believe and appreciate this they will long to be there.

Mortal sin is like a whirlpool. It is easy to be swept into it, and it is impossible to escape disaster. In the life based on the Sacred Liturgy, however, we can be carried powerfully along by the sacraments and holy habits, until we arrive on the shore of Heaven.