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Someone who wants to prepare for Heaven should simply do the Will of God, for love of God - whether it is by labouring, teaching, serving, or praying; or simply offering up her sufferings in sickness, with Jesus, to help souls.

Sacred Liturgy is like a river of praise which pours from the Church, upwards towards God in Eternity; and our own personal intentions to praise God with Christ and the Church flow into that 'river', reach Heaven, and give glory to the Father.

The Lord wants us to keep alive the hope of Heaven. We are not all meant to be busy campaigning about great causes. He is grateful when faithful people love Him and remain faithful to their ordinary duties and to prayer, and are kind to their families and friends.

It is worthwhile to persist in prayer for people in need, or in great trouble, and to pray even when there seem to be few results and little help. By prayer, a fervent soul can stop another from committing worse sins. By prayer, we can even prevent dying souls from falling into Hell.

In intercession, it is as if God allows one person to descend on a rope to rescue another person who is stranded in a deep shaft underground. Both are dependent on God, but the one praying is in touch with God and the one waiting to be rescued is on a broken ladder, with no way 'up'.

In intercession, it is as if God allows one person to descend on a rope to rescue another person who is stranded in a deep shaft underground. Both are dependent on God, but the one praying is in touch with God and the one waiting to be rescued is on a broken ladder, with no way 'up'.

When someone perseveres in intercession for a person in danger, it's as if someone allows herself to be suspended on a rope and lowered into a mineshaft, to rescue someone trapped on a broken ladder with no way up and only danger below. The 'rescuer' has to be supported from above; but she can invite the endangered person to hold on, and to be brought up high, to light and safety.

If we greet Christ warmly in Holy Communion, we want to see our friends enjoy His love; and we can help them by our prayers, and by 'Christ-within-us' reaching out to include others in His embrace.

I was shown how marvellously worthwhile is the prayer of intercession. It is as if we hold up before God, through a great procession before Heaven, all the individuals we keep in mind. Truly, they receive help from God, through our prayers for them and God's mercy.

As I pray to the Father, in Jesus' name, in the Spirit, asking for help for someone in need, I can be certain that Jesus too prays for that praiseworthy intention, with His whole attention, and His Spirit's love and power.

When a friend of Christ receives Him in Holy Communion, yet is too sick and weary to pray, she can be sure that Christ is 'holding' her in His loving care just as He would hold a sick child.

When we pray to God, in Jesus' name, for help for someone in need, we can be sure that God sends down grace from Heaven, like a stream of glory, to enfold that person in need, to enlighten his mind and strengthen his will to do good - if he will respond and turn to God.

At every celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Christ is Really Present, praying for sinners, gazing towards the Father, just as when Christ once prayed from the Cross. His one prayer is eternal. His one sacrifice is re-presented, Sacramentally, at Mass, in every place and era.

Ever since the time when Christ offered His life for sinners, on Calvary, and prayed for us to be forgiven, that same Sacrifice and sacrificial prayer have been offered by Christ for sinners: in a sacramental manner, all over the world, century by century, at every celebration of the Mass.

Only by the power poured down from Heaven to faithful souls, and through the work done by them to spread the Good News and to make reparation for sin, can the violence and slaughter in the world be overcome, as Heaven rejoices in every success in the war against violence and evil.

A person who is trapped in immorality, to satisfy his appetites, is like a man living deep in the earth, in a small cellar with a trap-door. For a Christian to live like that is shameful - and for a priest to do so is especially tragic - though even the most sinful people can be helped by the intercessions of others.

It is good that we delight in beautiful things and thank God for them.

Someone who follows a humble, quiet, persevering way of prayer and faithfulness to God, is on the Way to Heaven, just as a man on a straight, well-lit motorway is making a safe journey to the city; unlike those who choose to struggle on foot, picking their own route across country, and encountering rabbit-holes, barbed wire and wild animals.

It is as though Heaven has descended as far as a church sanctuary. We are united in praise with Christ, in our midst, and with the Saints. This is a living memorial of Christ's death: yet the Risen Christ is with us, praising the Father Who sent Him to be our Saviour.

Christ is a true friend and companion to those who believe in Him and love Him.