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Christ's love for us is so great that he waits until we meet in Heaven to express it fully. Until then, His touch is restrained, as when a doting grandfather reaches out gently to an infant.

As a loving father increases his child's joy, before a party, by asking her to wait, blindfolded, as preparations are made, so God might hide the joys ahead, for our good.

Someone who adores Christ in the Mass and longs to do His work can remain in spirit beside the Cross all day, with Calvary's offering in mind - making at each moment, with Christ, expressions of love to the Father, thanks for everything good, reparation for sins (patiently accepting trials), prayers for help and salvation for individuals, and prayer for the Church.

Whoever adores Christ at Mass, and wants to remain with Him in spirit all day, can offer praise and thanks through Him to the Father all day, at work, as well as reparation for sin, and prayers for the needy

Some people do not believe in the 'bridge to Heaven', which is Christ; or they allow themselves to be carried away by the crowd to follow another, Godless way of life. At death, suddenly arriving at the Abyss, and nowhere near the 'bridge', they plunge to their doom. Nothing can stop them from falling. They have nothing to hold onto.

Heaven is like a bright Home far above earth's darkness; an exalted state; a free gift of which we are not worthy. Preparation is necessary for those who want to live with the saints in perfect love and unity, in the embrace of the Three Divine Persons, in Their perfect bliss and peace.

Heaven is like a bright Home far above earth's darkness; an exalted state; a free gift of which we are not worthy. Preparation is necessary for those who want to live with the saints in perfect love and unity, in the embrace of the Three Divine Persons, in Their perfect bliss and peace.

Christ, in His earthly life, offered the Sacrifice to end all sacrifices, though He deserved nothing but love, honour and glory. He allowed sinners to humiliate and kill Him, in order to show the depth of Divine Love. We, at Mass, can offer that once-for-all Sacrifice in reparation for our own sins.

God is so powerful and Holy, it is as if He would crush us with His glory, were He to allow His fiery love to overwhelm us when we are unprepared. It would be as though the Cathedral wall burst inward, as His love poured upon us like a torrent of living fire.

It is a cause for sadness, that many people never pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory - amongst whom might be their own friends and relations. It is not a light matter, either, that many do not themselves believe that they might need purification after death; it's as if they imagine they will all be perfect, ready for Heaven!

The big question we should ask ourselves is: 'Am I ready for Heaven?' We have a great need for repentance, penance and purification.

Someone who refuses to repent of wrong, refuses to show contrition, or refuses to make reparation to those whom he has wronged, is in a dangerous place as if on the sloping side of the crater of a volcano. He might live in hope of reaching the top. But each new movement of rebellion makes him slide closer to the sheer precipice, from which only a miracle of grace can rescue him.

Heaven is so vast, that from its heights it can be seen how small is the Earth, and how short is life on Earth. It is important, therefore, that we actively prepare for Heaven and do not neglect God and holiness.

Those who accept God's plans, and God's help, can be made ready before death for their meeting with God. They allow themselves to be changed, and thoroughly reconciled, and made ready for Heaven.

It should be the aim of each Christian to climb the mountain of holiness, and to emerge one day from the darkness of sin to the 'fresh air' of life in Christ, in purity, amidst the flowers of grace - ready to greet Christ when He calls the soul to die, and to go 'Home'

Illness gives us an opportunity to ask ourselves, as we think about the end of life: "Shall I meet God with a peaceful or a guilty heart?"

Some people, even though they have been saved, see clearly when they die how ill-prepared they are for Heaven, as if wearing filthy clothes - because they have neglected penance and prayer. They see all this in Heaven's light- yet they also see how merciful is God, Who invites them into Purgatory.

Some people, even though they have been saved, see clearly when they die how ill-prepared they are for Heaven, as if wearing filthy clothes - because they have neglected penance and prayer. They see all this in Heaven's light- yet they also see how merciful is God, Who invites them into Purgatory.

War can endanger or corrupt the fighters. It can even endanger the souls of the injured innocent by making them bitter or full of hate. What sort of preparation for Heaven is armed struggle and all the evils that cause war to flourish?

By the mercy of God, the souls in Purgatory can bewail their pride, or greed, or lukewarm belief, or whatever has caused them, though believers, to be ill-prepared for death.