158. Heaven

Heaven

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 158

Ave Maria series

158  What is heaven?

Heaven is the endless moment of love.  Nothing more separates us from God, whom our soul loves and has sought our whole life long.  Together with all the angels and saints we will be able to rejoice forever in and with God.  [1023-1026, 1053]

“Children With Jesus” by Carl Christian Vogel von Vogelstein (1788-1868)…..Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” –Matthew 19: 14. …..158

If you have ever observed a couple looking at each other lovingly or seen a baby nursing who looks for his mother’s eyes as though it wanted to store up every smile forever, then you have some inkling of heaven.  To be able to see God face to face—that is like one, single, never-ending moment of love.  52

For now we see as in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.  1 Corinthians 13:12

[1023-1026, 1053]

HEAVEN

1023 Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they "see him as he is," face to face (1 John 3:2; compare 1 Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 22:4)⁵⁹⁸ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

By virtue of our apostolic authority, we define the following: According to the general disposition of God, the souls of all the saints . . . and other faithful who died after receiving Christ's holy Baptism (provided they were not in need of purification when they died, . . . or, if they then did need or will need some purification, when they have been purified after death, . . .) already before they take up their bodies again and before the general judgment - and this since the Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into heaven - have been, are and will be in heaven, in the heavenly Kingdom and celestial paradise with Christ, joined to the company of the holy angels. Since the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, these souls have seen and do see the divine essence with an intuitive vision, and even face to face, without the mediation of any creature.( Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336):Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1000; compare Lumen gentium 49)⁵⁹⁹ –CCC

1024 This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity - this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed - is called "heaven." Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.—CCC

1025 To live in heaven is "to be with Christ." The elect live "in Christ,"(Philippians 1:23; compare John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)⁶⁰⁰ but they retain, or rather find, their true identity, their own name.( compare Revelation 2:17)⁶⁰¹ –CCC

For life is to be with Christ; where Christ is, there is life, there is the kingdom.( St. Ambrose, In Luc.,10,121:Patrologia Latina 15 1834A)⁶⁰² –CCC

1026 By his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has "opened" heaven to us. The life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the fruits of the redemption accomplished by Christ. He makes partners in his heavenly glorification those who have believed in him and remained faithful to his will. Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ.—CCC

IN BRIEF

1053 "We believe that the multitude of those gathered around Jesus and Mary in Paradise forms the Church of heaven, where in eternal blessedness they see God as he is and where they are also, to various degrees, associated with the holy angels in the divine governance exercised by Christ in glory, by interceding for us and helping our weakness by their fraternal concern" (Paul VI, Credo of the People of God § 29).—CCC

JT  Children with Jesus