The Happiness of Heaven: By a Father of the Society of JesusBoudreaux, F. J.
Religion
The Happiness of Heaven: By a Father of the Society of Jesus
Boudreaux, F. J.
Heaven
Wherefore, not only is our mind elevated far beyond its present
powers by the Light of glory, but our body, also, is to be exalted by
the resurrection far beyond its present perfection. As we have
already seen, all the just are to rise in glory, but each one in his
own degree of perfection. "For, one is the glory of the sun, another
the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star
differeth from star in glory. So, also, in the resurrection of the
dead." Here the Apostle of the Gentiles teaches us, in the plainest
manner possible, that among the saints there is a very great
difference in the degrees of personal beauty, grace, and splendor.
There is as much difference between the beauty and splendor of the
highest and those of the lowest, as we now see between the dazzling
splendor of the surf and the pale light of the moon. As the
resurrection is a portion of heaven's rewards, it follows that the
more completely we have mortified our inordinate passions, and made
our life conformable to that of Jesus Christ, the more also of
personal beauty and splendor shall we possess in heaven; and,
consequently, the more of heaven's happiness we shall enjoy.
These attributes of personal beauty and perfection, and elevation to
a high position, in heaven, are the very marks by which we shall
immediately recognize those who have been most holy, and who have
done most for God, in this world. It will no longer be as now, when
the wicked prosper, possess wealth, honors, and power, while the
virtuous are not infrequently poor, despised, and even persecuted
unto death. Hence, the appearance of a man and his surroundings are
not a rule whereby we can rightly judge of his sanctity. Thus, when
you see a man of great personal beauty, highly educated, and polished
in his manners, surrounded with all the magnificence which the world
can give, honored and idolized by his fellows, enjoying a high social
position, and all the pleasures of life, you do not, you cannot
judge, from all this worldly glory, that he is one of the holiest men
living. He may, indeed, be a good man, but the glory which surrounds
him is not the standard by which you can judge of the amount of
virtue which he possesses.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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