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The purpose of Holy Communion is to restore to human beings the joy of intimate union with their Divine Creator: a joy known by the first man and woman but lost through Original Sin. It brings bliss, consolation and peace to those who come to Christ with purified hearts.
The purpose of Holy Communion, in which we receive Christ our God, is to restore to human beings the joy, and the intimacy with God, which was enjoyed by our first parents, before they sinned: before the 'fall' from grace.
Those who freely and deliberately decide to disobey Divine Law on sexual morality, as taught by Christ through His Church, and who lead unchaste lives, are like people who freely board a train, laid on by Satan. It steadily descends, then enters a great hole in the ground.
My soul is like a holy Temple within me, where God the Most Holy Trinity dwells. I can withdraw into that holy place whenever the worldly clamour grows too loud, or whenever I want to praise and pray to the Lord: to Jesus, or the Father or the Holy Spirit.
It is important to maintain a state of grace. Christ reminds us that the soul is a holy place, because of the Divine indwelling. We can withdraw into that place whenever the clamour 'outside' is too loud, as we work for Christ's Kingdom; and we shall find peace, comfort and refreshment, even when we are in the public eye.
When Moses was leader, he looked on as wicked men fell down to Hell, underground; the people were being shown in a physical way what happens in a spiritual manner to people who disobey God and act against His Will.
It is a fearsome thing, to take a person's life. But some who loudly criticise the 'God of the Bible' for his punishments think nothing of the fact that thousands of innocent babies are slaughtered in the womb, every year, in one country, and many more elsewhere.
Truly, the Mass is the re-presentation of the unique, saving Sacrifice which Christ offered on Calvary. Here, He prays for us to His Father in Heaven, that we will be forgiven and made holy.
In a time when Governments are not afraid to issue grim warnings about the results of certain sorts of behaviour - sexual promiscuity, drug misuse, and smoking - the Clergy fail in their duty to warn of the real and terrible consequences of deliberate disobedience to the Laws of God.
Many of the Clergy are content to encourage their flocks in doing good; yet they neglect those people by failing to warn them of the grievous consequences of deliberate rejection of God, the Church or the Commandments. Falsely supposing that a man will be saved, no matter what sort of life he has led, they never mention Eternal suffering in Hell
Think about the uproar when careless school teachers allow the children to do as the please on school trips, only to find them lying dead near a river-bank. What will all of Heaven think when careless priests and Bishops, who have let people do as they please, see them falling down into the depths of Hell?
There is a path which leads straight to Heaven. It was built by Christ. There is a dangerous chasm at one side, into which will fall those people foolish enough to insist that they can do whatever they please, and disobey their guide, which is Christ and His Church.
We can usually see little on a flight. Just as when, on an aircraft, we have little glimpses of bright fields or snowy mountains, so, in the spiritual life, God allows us 'glimpses' of spiritual joys, because He knows one of our greatest dangers is discouragement, and wants us to know that we are on our way to Heaven.
Just as, on an aircraft, the flight is endangered if someone becomes so angry that he attacks the pilot or breaks a window, so, in the spiritual life, a person who commits a mortal sin risks missing a safe landing, and even entering a state which is indescribably painful.
Just as Moses insisted that he wished all of God's people were prophets, so Christ insists that He wishes all of His friends in the Church were fervent in believing and defending the teachings of the Church.
Many good followers of Christ seem to live in a bright 'cloud', in the spiritual life, which prevents them from seeing or hearing their beloved Lord. He allows this, for their souls' sakes, to help them grow in faith. If they persevere, they will experience a 'birth' into the joy and glory of known union.
One of the tricks of the evil one is to stir up grim memories in our minds at times when we have every right to be joyful. He stirs up images of wrongs endured, sins long ago forgiven, and of dangers and even assaults long-forgotten. He cannot bear to see us being carefree and joyful in Christ.
The Godhead is like a bright cloud which loving people can enter, in prayer. For those who yearn for entry, but who fail to care for their neighbour in earthly life, there seems to be no way 'in': no possibility of union in contemplation, unless they first learn how to love.
Our Father in Heaven denies to no-one the opportunity to know Christ, and to receive the gift of Heaven. Whether in earthly life, or at the moment of death, each person in our village hears the truth; but many say: 'To join the Church would be inconvenient', or 'To serve God will cause me trouble', or 'Life is too short to make sacrifices'. They forget the purpose of life - and our destination, which will be, eventually, Heaven or Hell.
Those Catholics who dissent from the Church's teachings on faith and morals, and even speak loudly about their mistaken views, disturbing the faithful members, are as foolish as dancers in a troupe who, by their decision to kick and stamp whenever they choose, ruin the dance for the whole troupe.