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If someone remains united to Christ, on the pathway to death, Christ guides that soul on the narrow way, leading her by the hand into the Fire of the Godhead in safety. The 'safest' way of walking is to have no trailing sins, like flapping garments, which can catch fire.

The Christian life consists of trust in Christ, giving up sin, following His way even in darkness, and moving towards the Glory of heaven.

A surgeon who gives a serious diagnosis sometimes has little hope of a cure. A priest who has to 'diagnose' serious sin can offer, as a cure, complete forgiveness and peace to those who sincerely repent!

A surgeon who gives a serious diagnosis sometimes has little hope of a cure. A priest who has to 'diagnose' serious sin can offer, as a cure, complete forgiveness and peace to those who sincerely repent!

Priests should be like Christ, Who invited people to repent of their sins. It is not for priests to act solely as counsellors and comforters, without also speaking the truth about the serious sins which can entrap us.

Catholic priests should indeed give us good advice. Yet their principle purpose in the confessional, in the sacrament of Penance, is to forgive our sins. They are not ordained to be like secular counsellors.

How embarrassed we would be if the sins we commit were to appear as stains on our 'outside', like dirty stains on our clothes. Christ wants us to realise that He sees, at every moment, all the sins we have committed and have not yet confessed. He wants us to be made clean, and joyful, through repentance and confession.

No-one would want to walk down the aisle in a badly stained garment for everyone to see. Yet many people walk down the aisle, for Holy Communion, with their souls covered in huge 'stains' - which Jesus can see - the stains of unrepented sins.

Imagine how embarrassed a bride would be, whose dress had been stained by a spilled drink, and who then thought about her walk towards the altar. Similarly, everyone who approaches the altar to receive Holy Communion needs to think about their present state. Is there a large 'stain' on their soul, from serious sin, which makes them unfit to approach to receive Christ their Saviour?

Although we cannot see our sins, Jesus can see them. Imagine how embarrassed we would be if our wrong-doing were made plain by large stains on us, exteriorly. If we are wise, we will repent, and ask for the grace to change, to banish the 'stains' of sin that are visible to Our Lord.

Christ who welcomes us to the tabernacle is also waiting to welcome us into Heaven - if we have repented of our sins.

Christ who welcomes us to the tabernacle is also waiting to welcome us into Heaven - if we have repented of our sins.

Flames billow out from the front of the altar. The fire represents the holiness of Christ in His Divinity, in His Real Presence on the altar. We need to ensure that we approach with awe as well as love - with no 'clothing of sin' that might catch fire from that conflagration.

Christ looks on with wonder at the doctor who has repented of the abortions he did, and who bravely speaks out about the sanctity of human life and its importance from the moment of conception.

We need to trust in Christ in all difficulties, and value His Will and His opinion above all. We allow His light to shine powerfully from our lives when we have removed all 'obstacles'.

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.

When we sincerely repent of our sins and weaknesses it is as if a trapdoor opens above our head, as Heaven's light shines in, to bring us peace, light and closer union with God.

A person who doesn't give up all attachment to sins and weaknesses before death must - if he is saved - repent in the darkness of Purgatory. Nothing impure can enter heaven.

Christ awaits us at the tabernacle, as if at the 'Doorway' to Heaven. If we make efforts to abandon our bad habits and weaknesses, by His grace, it's as if we push aside some of the clutter which might have hindered us on our journey to Glory.