Search Page

A Priest who prides himself on being different from his brothers in the Presbyterate, more tolerant of sin, more fun to be with, and more imaginative, is usually a person who likes attention, and is not of one mind with the Church. If he does not rejoin his brothers in peace and humility he will risk straying far from the narrow road which leads to Heaven and might take some holy persons with him.

We are right to pray for people in need: our neighbours, and the Holy Souls in Purgatory who have avoided Hell - and people all over the world, who live in the darkness of superstition, unbelief and atheism, and who are at risk of ending in Hell, unless they repent and change.

Just as an astronaut who deliberately cuts himself free from his spacecraft risks floating away alone into space, to die, so a person in mortal sin risks finding himself eternally 'lost' without any of the joy and peace and love of God, his Eternal 'Home'

Every priest in the world has been called to be another Christ in the place where he serves. Whoever dissents from Church doctrine, however, and argues publicly about such things, endangers his own soul and endangers others by perhaps leading them astray. Teachers and preachers have a stricter judgement.

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.

People in Government, in any country, who promote legislation which encourages abortion or sexual immorality, or other serious evils, will find themselves moving along the 'broad road' to Hell, unless they repent before they die. In Hell, there is no love, peace, purity or joy but only fire, terror, noise, anger and pain.

The Church is like an ocean-liner, launched by Christ. He sees that many people on board argue about the purpose of the ship, minimise the danger of travelling independently, and pour scorn on the dangers of the water. By such dissent, those passengers lead people astray. It is as if they were throwing other people into the water, so powerful is their influence Yet they will have to account for their irresponsible words.

The attraction of sin often masks the danger further ahead. It's as if Satan prepares a trap for us: like a bright entrance to a tunnel, promising great pleasures - though a careless person will find himself on a sloping path with no handholds. It leads straight to Hell.

Everyone who has visions in prayer should be very cautious, and seek the advice of those in authority in the Church. They can prove their love for God by their obedience. People who insist on what their 'visions' ask of them, even against the request of Church authorities, are in danger of being led astray. Some visions come from Satan, who loves to give pleasure if he can thereby draw people down to Hell.

Members of the Clergy who cause confusion amongst Catholics are like leaders who take a crowd of walkers across boggy ground. The walkers sink into the marsh, and are horrified, not made joyful. Preachers fail the flock when they declare: 'We should share our doubts' or - about the Faith - 'There are no clear answers'.

When we speak up bravely, when appropriate, about sin, and when we offer up our pains and tribulations in union with Jesus, to help others in their trials, and to save souls, we do indeed help them, by the grace of God. It's as if, as we have helped people to avoid sin, we have helped them to avoid a great pit at the centre of their ordinary life, which represents the alienation from God that sinners risk, by their own actions.

When dissenting Catholics voice their opinions, and encourage others to dispute the constant teachings of the Church on faith or morals, they act as irresponsibly as people on a safari, looking at wildlife from behind a protective fence, who urge other people to leap over the barrier, or who even, jokingly, make to push people over, saying: 'You won't come to any harm!'

When members of the Clergy, or theologians, or other people in the Church urge people to believe that behaviour once everywhere known as sinful is nowadays to be seen as reasonable or even good - such as contraceptive use, or sexual activity outside marriage - they endanger souls. To encourage people to sin is to help them on the way to Hell. The demons lie in wait for careless souls just as wild animals lie in wait for safari tourists who are foolish enough to leave the safety of the path.

We must avoid the 'broad road'. Those members of the Clergy, and other Catholics, who advise people that what the Church says is gravely sinful behaviour is not in fact sinful, or simply not worth making sacrifices to avoid, are encouraging people to walk along the broad road that leads to Hell. They risk sharing the fate of the people they have helped to commit mortal sin and who, if unrepentant at death, reach Hell.

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.

By fervent prayer, we can withstand evil spiritual assaults. When we share the truths of the Gospel with new fervour, or in new ways, we can find that we have stirred up the anger of the evil one, who tries to distract or disturb us in prayer, by horrible sights of the fires of Hell, or by problems in ordinary life; but we must remember that Jesus is stronger; Jesus is Lord, and we are right to trust in Him and to feel safe in His love.

We must not become turned in on ourselves. There are some jobs in which it is difficult to avoid becoming 'me-centered', focused upon either more money or more praise or greater fame, for example, as bankers look for greater profit, athletes work for more medals, and actors yearn to be the greatest star. It is dangerous to forget about God or about people close to oneself, in self-idolatry.

A member of the Clergy - or anyone else - who shares his doubts about articles of faith, or invites others to disregard the Church's moral teachings, is like a man who invites someone to bathe in a shark-infested sea. To lead someone into sin is like delivering a person to the demons.

If we are tempted to give in to sadness or anger, but instead, take out the Rosary, and pray for people in great need, we grow in grace, and even save souls by our intercessions - through the grace of Christ and the prayers of His Holy Mother

When a person deliberately commits an act offensive to God - whether by sexual immorality or uncharitable acts against a neighbour - it is as if he releases into the world some of the smoke of Hell, from underground, and is glad to have done so, hoping to be hidden with his misdeeds. But God can see everything, including that soul's desperate need of rescue, before he dies.