Search Page

It is when a person becomes really alive in the Spirit, perhaps long after initial conversion, that he or she can 'see' Christ clearly, if Christ Wills - whether by genuine visions or by 'unknowing' knowledge and 'unseeing' sight. Christ is no longer hidden behind the 'veils' of a person's self-concern.

Each person who genuinely experiences God in contemplation and is able to describe such things is like someone who has glimpsed bright scenes through Gaps in a 'cloud' which is Divine Life and Eternity. We cannot 'see' the whole picture.

Sometimes we are too close to things to see their meaning. As the Lord 'expands' our view, we come to see things of real importance, such as the importance of persevering on the Way to Heaven. Someone whose view is first limited to the wallpaper in front of him, for example, can marvellously broaden his vision, to gaze almost as 'far' as Heaven.

Christ revealed Himself at the Consecration. He stood before the altar, in glory, His arms outstretched in greeting, as He assured me that these particular difficulties will soon be overcome.

The life of God is so awesome and glorious that even the Saints in Heaven, who gaze towards God in wonder, do not fully understand the Holy Trinity. That triune life was only revealed to us because Jesus, the Son of God, descended from Heaven, to tell us of God's love and God's inner life.

Scripture alone? Holy Scripture is a gift from God. How strange it would be to receive this Word, when it is 'delivered' to us, without acknowledging the Church that wrote it and handed it on - and her Tradition, her Eucharist, her teachers, saints and symbols.

Truly, God has revealed what He is 'like': so loving and humble that He was willing to let His creatures mock and kill Him, rather than abandon His mission to save us from sin. And now, we can be present at Mass, where that same loving Saviour offers His Eternal Sacrifice.

The Godhead is like an opaque cloud, in that we cannot pierce it by our sight to understand God's plans and thoughts. Yet we know His Will for us, which is that we keep His Commandments and fulfil our daily duties.

Christ was Present in glory, at the Consecration, radiant with Divine majesty, revealing Himself as True God, made man, Who in His humility was willing to accept persecution and death.

God wants everyone to come to knowledge of the truth: about the meaning of life, and about His love for us, revealed in His Son Jesus Christ. But people who avoid the truth or refuse to change are trapped in a darkness of their own making, unlike believers who turn to Heaven with confidence.

A Catholic who refuses to believe some of the truths of the Faith puts up a barrier in his soul, and prevents himself from gaining the sort of clearer understanding of Truth, and of inter-locking truths, that he might have gained from God in prayer.

Christ is Really Present with us in the Blessed Sacrament. We are just as close to Him, in Holy Communion, as were His friends, when they sat beside Him in Galilee.

Everyone who dies meets Christ, even people of other religions, and even people who have never heard of Him. They will see Him revealed as their God, and as the Saviour Who died for them. Some will fall down in adoration, believing in Him at last, and will be saved, even if they need purification. Others will recognise Him as the enemy of the evil which they continued to love in earthly life, and despise Him, and hurl themselves away from Him, to end in Hell.

Everyone who dies meets Christ, even people of other religions, and even people who have never heard of Him. They will see Him revealed as their God, and as the Saviour Who died for them. Some will fall down in adoration, believing in Him at last, and will be saved, even if they need purification. Others will recognise Him as the enemy of the evil which they continued to love in earthly life, and despise Him, and hurl themselves away from Him, to end in Hell.

Everyone who dies meets Christ, even people of other religions, and even people who have never heard of Him. They will see Him revealed as their God, and as the Saviour Who died for them. Some will fall down in adoration, believing in Him at last, and will be saved, even if they need purification. Others will recognise Him as the enemy of the evil which they continued to love in earthly life, and despise Him, and hurl themselves away from Him, to end in Hell.

Long ago, before Christ came to earth, people looked for signs and wonders, yearning for evidence of God's existence, or of His nature, and His wishes; they were like people searching for a 'gap in the cloud', as many do today.

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.

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.

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.

We can no more know what it is 'like' at the heart of the Godhead than we can know what it is 'like' at the centre of an exploding star in the heavens. But we do know some things which are certain, because God has revealed them, through His Son. First, He is Love: like a fire of love. Secondly, we need to be pure if we hope to enter God and be joyful rather than tormented.