**********MOST SERIOUS MESSAGE TO ALL CATHOLICS**********

      On January 4, I posted the video "A SERMON FOR ALL CATHOLICS" preached by a Fr. Gavin Bitzer based upon a sermon give by St. Leonard of Port Maurice (1676-1751). It truly made me see a number of things critically important for us to know. The stated facts that many souls went to hell might very well be true, for Jesus did say "Many are called, but few are chosen" and "How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." But we also know that we can absolutely work out our salvation with fear and trembling as St. Paul advises in Philippians 2. It is Satan who wants us to believe that we are good enough as we are to get into heaven so that we might lose our fear of God and as a result our souls too. DON'T FALL FOR THAT!
           The best and sure way to get into heaven is to attain union with God through the Holy Eucharist. But since not everyone chooses that avenue, I'll mention the requirements I learned from this sermon. We must realize that any good deed we perform cannot cancel any sin we've committed. A sin is a sin and the only way to remove it is to repent or confess it in the case of a mortal sin. Just one mortal sin unconfessed can keep us out of heaven even if we were the nicest persons in the whole world! Any time we knowingly disobey the teachings of Christ or the Church, we commit a mortal sin. Common examples are skipping attending an obligated Mass for no good reason, not forgiving someone, using birth control pills, making an insincere confession, and worse yet, receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. We disobey because it's either easy to do so or too hard to obey and/or everyone is doing it. I see people showing up for Mass only on Easter and Christmas days, hoping to appease God—that won't work. Some ex-Catholics offer free services to a church instead of coming back to the Church—that won't work either. We can do thousands of good deeds, but if there's still one mortal sin on the book, the door to heaven is closed to us! 
       The other thing is prayer. If we don't pray, I don't see how we can possibly get into heaven. By praying, I don't mean reciting some prayers perfunctorily. Praying to God is sharing what's in your very heart openly with him. You may even cry out to him. Of course, with the Lord God, we must be totally sincere and honest, yes meaning yes and no meaning no, for we cannot fool him one iota. Last, know that salvation is between you and God. At judgment time, you alone will answer to him. Now is the time to realize that he loves you and would never want to lose you. So cast aside your pride, wise up and submit yourself to him, and you'll be happy for all eternity! Otherwise, you'll end up being one of the biggest losers that ever existed.