Heaven

We call Heaven the state of happiness of those who die in a state of God’s grace. It is the reward granted in divine judgment. It is a state of complete joy, without pain or grief, received by those who attain holiness and present themselves before God with a soul that is clean, radiant, and adorned with virtue and good deeds.

Heaven itself is an eternal reward. No one can sin there, nor does anyone wish to. Only good is loved. The joys of heaven last forever; they never end. They are usually grouped into two:

• The vision of God. This is the main reward: union with God, intimacy with the Lord, who is the supreme Good and the origin of all other goods and joys. And since God is infinite, the joy of Heaven is always increasing.
• Complete happiness. All good desires are fulfilled and satisfied, in the company of the angels, the saints, and Our Lady.

This is because the greatest joy in Heaven is spiritual, and in this life there is a tendency to seek happiness in material things. Because of this, we lose the ability to grasp spiritual goods and their superior value.

Yes. Those who are holier here on earth will enjoy a fuller happiness in Heaven. The usual example is that of containers. Imagine several containers of different sizes: a glass, a bottle, a jar, and a barrel. If we fill them, all will be full, but each according to its capacity. In Heaven, we will be completely happy, each according to the capacity and size of the heart.

All those who are in Heaven with us will be loved by us, especially those whom we already love and those who did good for us. That good, and all other goods, will be shown to us in Heaven.

B. HOW DOES ONE REACH HEAVEN?

In one sense, yes, since each person reaches it with his own merits and good deeds. However, it is more truly a fruit of the love of God, a love He has given freely. No one can raise himself to Heaven; rather, it is the Lord who brings us there.

Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us the way of life that leads to Heaven. We need to put His teachings into practice. To achieve this, it is essential to rely on the help of the sacraments and prayer.

To advance quickly toward Heaven, the following are recommended:

• Frequent review of the teachings of Christ (Christian doctrine).
• Frequent confession.
• Confident devotion to Mary Most Holy.

It is very good to desire Heaven, fostering hope of seeing God. Along with desiring it, we should also take steps toward Heaven; the journey is quicker when one keeps the goal clearly in mind.

Selfishness is an exaggerated love of oneself that disregards others. By contrast, the desire to go to Heaven is correct self-love, indeed the best kind, and it does not forget others, since the way to Heaven includes charity, love for God, service, apostolic zeal, etc.