“Watches” to protect, to reward or punish us.  He watches continually; He not only watches, but keeps us alive.  God might have created us and then paid no more attention to us; but if He had done so, we should have fallen back again into nothingness.  Therefore He preserves us every moment of our lives.  We cannot draw a breath without Him.  If a steam engine be required to work ceaselessly, you cannot, after setting it in motion, leave it henceforth entirely to itself.  You must keep up the supply of water and fire necessary for the generation of steam, you must oil the machinery, guard against overheating or cooling, and, in a word, keep a constant watch that nothing may interfere with its motion.  So also God not only watches His creatures, but likewise provides for them.  Since we depend so much upon Him, is it not great folly to sin against Him, to offend, and tempt Him as it were?  There are some birds that build their nests on the sides of great rocky precipices by the seacoast.  Their eggs are very valuable, and men are let down by long ropes to take them from the nest.  Now while one of these men is hanging over the fearful precipice, his life is entirely in the hands of those holding the rope above.  While he is in that danger do you not think he would be very foolish to tempt and insult those on whom his life depends, when they could dash him to pieces by simply dropping the rope?  While we live here upon earth we are all hanging over a great precipice, namely, eternity; God holds us by the little thread of our lives, and if He pleased to drop it we should be hurled into eternity.  If we tempt or insult Him, He might drop or cut the thread while we are in mortal sin, and then, body and soul, we go down into Hell.

18 Q. Does God know all things?  A. God knows all things, even our most secret thoughts, words, and actions.

Certainly God “knows all things.”  First, because He is infinitely wise, and if He were ignorant of anything He would not be so.  Secondly, because He is everywhere and sees and hears all.  Darkness does not hide from His view, nor noise prevent Him from hearing.  How could we sin if we thought of this!  God is just here, looking at me and listening to me.  Would I do what I am going to do now if I knew my parents, relatives, and friends were watching me?  Would I like them to know that I am thinking about things sinful, and preparing to do shameful acts?  No!  Why then should I feel ashamed to let God see and know of this wicked thought or action?  They might know it and yet be unable to harm me, but He, all-powerful, could destroy me instantly.  Nay, more; not only will God see and know this evil deed or thought; but, by His gift, the Blessed Mother, the angels and saints will know of it and be ashamed of it before God, and, most of all, my guardian angel will deplore it.  Besides, this sin will be revealed to the whole world on the last day, and my friends, relatives, and neighbors will know that I was guilty of it.