Xlv. Of Heaven
XLV. OF HEAVEN
(A)
What is heaven?
It is that place where the holy angels have lived since the beginning of the world and to which are admitted all the just who have been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ since the day of His glorious Ascension.
What is necessary for the just to be admitted into heaven?
They must have reached the term of their mortal life, and must have no debt to pay to the justice of God (LXIX. 2).
Are any souls of the just admitted into heaven immediately after their death?
Yes; they are those souls who have received in their full effect the application of the merits of Jesus Christ; or who, whilst on earth, in union with the satisfaction of Jesus Christ have offered to God full satisfaction due to their sins (ibid.).
Children that die after having received baptism and before they have come to the age when they would be capable of sinning, are they admitted immediately to heaven?
Yes, because original sin, which for them was the only obstacle, has been washed away by baptism.
Is the case the same as regards those adults who, although they have committed mortal sins, receive baptism in good dispositions and die immediately afterwards or before they commit sin again?
Yes, because the sacrament of Baptism applies in all their fulness the merits of the Passion of Jesus Christ (Third Part, LXIX. 1, 2, 7, 8).
And those who having committed sins, even mortal, since their baptism, and who have not made complete satisfaction for them, but who nevertheless at the moment of dying offer their life to God by a perfect act of charity, are they received into heaven immediately after their death?
Yes; especially when this perfect act of charity is martyrdom (Second Part: Second Section, CXXIV. 3).
(B)
What happens to the souls of the just as soon as they enter heaven?
They immediately behold the vision of God which renders them supremely happy (First Part, XII. 11).
Is it by their own power that they can thus see God, or must they receive some new perfection which strengthens their power of vision?
It is necessary for them to receive a further supernatural perfection other than grace, virtues, and gifts which they already possess (ibid. XII. 5).
What is this ulterior perfection called?
It is called the Light of Glory (ibid.).
What is meant by this?
It is a quality infused by God into the mind of the blessed which strengthens and elevates it, making it capable of receiving within it as the principle of its act of vision the Divine Essence itself in all its splendour (ibid.).
What results from this union of the Divine Essence with the mind of the blessed?
The result is that the blessed see God as He sees Himself (ibid.).
Is this the vision that is called Face to Face?
Yes, such as is promised us in the Holy Scriptures; and such as makes us like to God as far as it is possible for a creature to be.
Is it in order to communicate this vision to the blessed that God created all things, and rules and guides them all, from the beginning to the end of the world?
Yes. Moreover, when all the places He has marked in heaven shall be filled the actual course of the world will come to an end; and He will re-establish this world in a new state which will be that of the resurrection.
Can we know when the end of the world will come?
No; this depends entirely upon the counsels and providence of God.
(C)
Do the happy elect who enjoy the beatific vision take any interest at all in the things that take place on earth and among human beings?
Most certainly they interest themselves with things that happen on earth.
Do the elect in heaven see all that passes on earth?
They see in the vision of God all that in this world refers to the mystery of God's predestination and its fulfilment.
Do they hear the prayers addressed to them, and do they know the spiritual and temporal needs of those who were dear to them on earth?
Most assuredly; and they are always answering these prayers, and provide for the wants of those on earth by interceding to God (LXXII. 1).
Why then do we not always feel the benefit of their intercession?
Because they see our bequests and needs in the light of God, in which that which oftentimes seems a good to us is not in reality so according to the ordering of the divine providence (LXXII. 3).