QUOTATION: Unwanted?

You might think you are unwanted; that’s not true. Both heaven and hell want you badly.

--Jason Evert

QUOTATION: Obtaining Heaven

God is so good and so merciful, that to obtain Heaven it is sufficient to ask it of Him from our hearts.

--St. Benoit Joseph Labre

QUOTATION: Worldliness is Incompatible with Holiness

As it is an impossibility, to have our eyes raised towards Heaven and fixed on the earth at -the same time, so is it impossible that a person who is attached to the things of earth should love those of Heaven.

--St. John Climacus

QUOTATION: Judgement Day

All, past, present, and future will be judged: thus the Apostle says: We must all be manifested before the judgement-seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the proper things of the body according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil. Of the wicked, some will be condemned, but not be judged: namely unbelievers whose works will not be discussed, since He that believeth not is already judged. Some will be both condemned and judged, namely the faithful who die in mortal sin: The wages of sin is death, because on account of the faith which they had they will not be excluded from the judgement. Of the good, some will be saved and will not be judged, namely those who for God’s sake are poor in spirit; indeed, they will judge others: You who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel, which is to be referred not only to the disciples, but also to all the poor; otherwise Paul who labored more than the others would not be of their number: and consequently we must understand these words refer to all who follow the Apostles, and of men with an apostolic spirit. Hence the Apostle says: know ye not that we shall judge the angels? – The Lord will enter into judgement with the ancients of his people and its princes. Some, however, will be both saved and judged, those, namely, who die in the state of righteousness: since although they died righteous, yet through being occupied with temporal matters they fell somewhat, and therefore they will be judged, yet saved; in fact, they will be judged concerning all their works both good and bad: Walk in the ways of thy heart…and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgement. All things that are done God will bring into judgement for every error, whether it be good or evil.

--St. Thomas Aquinas, Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed

QUOTATION: Aiming for Heaven

The Gospel then has come to us, not merely to make us good subjects, good citizens, good members of society, but to make us members of the New Jerusalem, and "fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God." Certainly no one is a true Christian who is not a good subject and member of society; but neither is he a true Christian if he is nothing more than this. If he is not aiming at something beyond the power of the natural man, he is not really a Christian, or one of the elect.

--Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman, “The Visible Church for the Sake of the Elect”, Parochial and Plain Sermons, Volume 4.

QUOTATION: Love of God

But he who would love God exceedingly in heaven must first love him very much on earth. According to the degree of love which we bear towards God when we finish the journey of life, will be the degree of love with which we shall continue to love God for all eternity.

--St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Incarnation, Birth and Infancy of Jesus Christ

QUOTATION: Desire of Heaven

There are degrees in the desire of heaven. Some say “I want to go to heaven, because I shall be happy there, because people are so well-off there.” This is the first and lowest of desires for heaven. It is lawful, but it is chiefly the desire of those that live only for self, that work only for wages as the day-laborers. It is lawful, it fits in perfectly with the Christian law. But where is the love, where is the desire to see the good God?

Others say: “I want to go to Paradise, that I may no more offend God.” That is better, that desire is more noble, it has the interests of God's glory more in view. There is some love in that motive since it is to be forever faithful to Him that they desire heaven. But there are others who say: “I want to go to Paradise in order to love the good God, to see Him, to praise Him, and always to thank Him.” Oh! Here is perfection, since they want the good God for Himself What a pleasing thing to hear one speaking in this way! We say: Here are souls who really love. It is, indeed, beautiful!

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Accidental Beatitude in Heaven

We have spoken of essential beatitude, which consists in the immediate vision of God and in the love which flows from this vision. But the Lord, so rich in mercy for His elect, adds to essential beatitude a joy in created good, a joy which corresponds to their aspirations. This is what we call accidental beatitude.

This accidental beatitude is found in the society of friends: in general joy at the good deeds done on earth: in the special recompense given to certain classes, the halo of virgins, for example, of doctors, and of martyrs: in the resurrection and in the qualities of the glorious body.

Accidental Beatitude in the Soul

In regard to those whom they have known and loved on earth, the saints receive, besides the beatific vision in Verbo, also new knowledge extra Verbum. It is an accidental joy to learn, for example, of the spiritual progress, of their friends on earth, to see them entering heaven. This knowledge extra Verbum, is inferior to the beatific vision. Hence some call it the evening vision, contrasted with the morning vision which sees created things in God.

Further, each soul is happy to be honored by God, by the friends of God, especially by those who shine by wisdom. Each has a special joy in seeing his own good recognized and appreciated, good which he accomplished on earth in the midst of great difficulties.

Special recompense will be given for victories gained against the flesh, the world, and the devil: the halo of virgins, for victory against the concupiscence of the flesh: the halo of the martyrs for victory over persecutors: the halo of doctors for victory over ignorance, errors, infidelity, heresy, over the spirit of division and negation. This halo belongs, not only to those who have publicly taught sacred science, by word or by pen, but also to those who have taught in private fashion when occasion presented itself. "They that instruct many to justice shall shine as stars for all eternity." This halo belongs, first to the spirit, then, after the resurrection, to the body, just as the essential glory of the soul is reflected in the body raised from the dead.

--Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Life Everlasting

QUOTATION: Paradise

Paradise is God possessed, the term of God's love for us. Love longs to give itself and to share all that it has and all that it is. God, who is infinite love, does not desire to be happy alone. He puts us in Paradise, in order to, give Himself to us just as He is, in all His perfections, in His infinite happiness.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: The Desire for Heaven

The desire of heaven is holy. God wishes us frequently to desire it, and that is the reason He has filled our life with suffering, persecution, and the cross. It is for that He permits the inconstancy of human friendships. He does not want us to be attached to the goods of this world, nor to any one in the world. We are not made for one another, but for God alone. The happiness of this world is but a point without continuity, without length. One cannot attach himself to it for any length of time, cannot establish himself in it.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Heaven

Heaven is filled with converted sinners of all kinds, and there is room for more.

--St. John Cafasso

QUOTATION: Death

When we have lived a good life, we must not fear death: it's the gate to heaven.  There is so little distance between heaven and earth, that God always hears us.  Only a veil separates us from God.

--St. Andre Bessette, as quoted in Frère André disait souvent... Recueil de paroles de Frère André rapportées par ses amis.

QUOTATION: Our Friends and Family in Heaven Know Us

Further, since beatitude is a perfect state which satisfies all legitimate desires, each saint knows all others who are blessed, particularly those whom he has known and loved on earth. He knows their state, be they on earth or in purgatory. Thus the founder of an order knows all that concerns his religious family, knows the prayers which his sons address to him. Parents know the spiritual needs of their children who are still in this world. A friend, reaching the end of his course, knows how to facilitate the voyage of friends who address themselves to him. St. Cyprian speaks thus: "All our friends who have arrived wait for us. They desire vividly that we participate in their own beatitude, and are full of solicitude in our regard."

--Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Life Everlasting

QUOTATION: Hope of Salvation

The Good Lord doesn't ask us to be martyred, he created a life easier than that for us. He asks us to live as a good Christian, and to properly observe the commandments that the Church requires us to follow, such as charity, the love of God and neighbour, and to always be ready for all sacrifices for the defense of the Catholic Church. And if we put into practice what the Church asks of us,  we have reason to hope that the day will come when the Good Lord will welcome us in his blessed eternity of heaven, with all those who are waiting for us.

--St. Andre Bessette, as quoted in Frère André disait souvent... Recueil de paroles de Frère André rapportées par ses amis.

QUOTATION: Heaven

Let us not forget that we have to merit, purchase, and pay for heaven. The present time is intended only for amassing its price. The crown of justice is given only to victory. and to receive it we must persevere till death. It is not enough to run the race for some years, one is crowned only when he reaches the goal.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Purity

Are you sensitive on the subject of purity, avoiding even the appearance of sin, the least occasions, all that which, far or near, looks like sin? If so, you are on the straight road to Paradise; purgatory will have no work to do in you.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Heaven is Not Simply Given

We are on earth only to render ourselves worthy of heaven. But heaven is not given; it has to be purchased. Little children who die after Baptism receive it without personal merit, it is true. Our Lord pays for them, but adults receive it only on a title of justice, Coronam justitice. True it is that God gives us the means of meriting it, but we must correspond with His grace and faithfully employ those means. He gives and He recompenses in us His own gifts, if we have rendered them fruitful. Thus does He reconcile the goodness of His mercy and the requirements of His justice.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Our Final Destination

God has created us for heaven, and not for earth. He has created us in order to render us eternally happy. The life of time is only the road, the bridge, over which we must pass in order to enter Paradise.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Christ's Ascension

Christ's Ascension to the right hand of God is marvellous, because it is a sure token that heaven is a certain fixed place, and not a mere state.

--Blessed John Henry Newman

QUOTATION: Persuasion Requires Conviction

You lack drive. That's why you sway so few. You don't seem very convinced of what you gain by giving up those things of the earth for Christ.

Just compare: a hundredfold and life everlasting! Would you call that a poor bargain?

--St. Josemaria EscrivaThe Way, 79
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