Heaven

[mommyof4]

Heaven

God, in his unfathomable decrees, often allows it to be that those who have expended most effort in accomplishing some work do not enjoy its fruits here on earth; God reserves all their joy for eternity.

One day, I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end without realising it. And at the end of the roads there was a horrible precipice; that is the abyss of hell. The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they fell. And their number was so great that it was impossible to count them. And I saw the other road, or rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns and rocks; and the people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all kinds of suffering befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up immediately and went on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden filled with all sorts of happiness, and all these souls entered there. At the very first instant they forgot all their sufferings. (153)
When I was at Kriekrz to replace one of the sisters for a short time, I went across the garden one afternoon and stopped on the shore of the lake; I stood there for a long time, contemplating my surroundings. Suddenly I saw the Lord near me, and He graciously said to me, All this I created for you.....and know that all this beauty is nothing compared to what I have prepared for you in eternity. .... Oh, how the infinitely good God pursues us with His goodness! It often happens that the Lord grants me the greatest graces when I do not at all expect them. (158)
After I had gone into the refectory, during the reading, my whole being found itself plunged in God. Interiorly, I saw God looking at us with great pleasure, I remained alone with the Heavenly Father. At that moment, I had a deeper knowledge of the Three Divine Persons, whom we shall contemplate for all eternity and, after millions of years, shall discover that we have just barely begun our contemplation. Oh, how great is the mercy of God, who allows man to participate in such a high degree in His divine happiness! At the same time, what great pain pierces my heart that so many souls have spurned this happiness. (1439)

February, 1938. During meditation, the Lord gave me knowledge of the joy of heaven and of the saints on our arrival there; they love God as the sole object of their love, but they also have a tender and heartfelt love for us. It is from the face of God that this joy flows out upon all, because we see Him face to face. His face is so sweet that the soul falls anew into ecstasy. (1592)

When during adoration, I repeated the prayer, "Holy God" several times, a vivid presence of God suddenly swept over me, and I was caught up in spirit before the majesty of God. I saw how the Angels and the Saints of the Lord give glory to God. The glory of God is so great that I dare not try to describe it, because I would not be able to do so, and souls might think that what I have written is all there is. Saint Paul, I understand now why you did not want to describe heaven, but only said that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him...Now I have seen the way in which I adore God; oh how miserable it is! And what a tiny drop it is in comparison to that perfect heavenly glory. (1604)

[Lindathirdorder]

Originally Posted by mommyof4

Heaven

The glory of God is so great that I dare not try to describe it, because I would not be able to do so, and souls might think that what I have written is all there is. Saint Paul, I understand now why you did not want to describe heaven, but only said that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him...Now I have seen the way in which I adore God; oh how miserable it is! And what a tiny drop it is in comparison to that perfect heavenly glory. (1604)

It is just amazing to think that we could have all these visions of the Heavenly Glory and it still not but a tiny drop in comparison to what heaven is actually like. This does give me so much hope that through all the suffering I experience in life that there will be so much more Glory to comein the next life with God.

[Shoshana]

The narrow path that the souls were suffering on as opposed ot the path that people were enjoying themselves. This is a good deliberation for me. What does this mean? I know of people (and one that I am very close to), has not suffered personnaly much in life whether physically or mentally or spiritually. Everyone likes her and she is kind, etc. She readily admits her lack of sufferings and does not understand when she sees so much suffering around.

She also does not take a stand too much. And I have wondered about that. Bishop Sheen says in one of his books that one knows when one is truly following Christ, there is a test. Just as Jesus was hated/persecuted, so will we. Is this narrow road about the same thing?

Is the other path consist also of Catholics wha are good, who go to Church, etc and yet enjoy life to the fullest. They are well in all respects. They are very involved in church stuff but that is part of their personality. Bishop Sheen explains this also. There is more merit in an introvert doing external works than an extrovert.

It always has one to ponder over this....

[Lindathirdorder]

Originally Posted by Shoshana

The narrow path that the souls were suffering on as opposed ot the path that people were enjoying themselves. This is a good deliberation for me. What does this mean? I know of people (and one that I am very close to), has not suffered personnaly much in life whether physically or mentally or spiritually. Everyone likes her and she is kind, etc. She readily admits her lack of sufferings and does not understand when she sees so much suffering around.

She also does not take a stand too much. And I have wondered about that. Bishop Sheen says in one of his books that one knows when one is truly following Christ, there is a test. Just as Jesus was hated/persecuted, so will we. Is this narrow road about the same thing?

Is the other path consist also of Catholics wha are good, who go to Church, etc and yet enjoy life to the fullest. They are well in all respects. They are very involved in church stuff but that is part of their personality. Bishop Sheen explains this also. There is more merit in an introvert doing external works than an extrovert.

It always has one to ponder over this....

Well I have suffered much in life and mostly because of my own ignorance and sinfulness.
I also know many who do not seem to suffer much on the outside but suffer much interiorly, especially if they are prayerful and Contemplatives.

I also know that God will not give us more than we can handle, and perhaps some people can't handle too much suffering. But perhaps it is a clue if like you say they don't understand others when they suffer so much. It could be a sign of Lukewarmness which St. Faustina has talked about in her Diary.

My own sufferings now are those of rebukes for my faith, I pray to much, I go to Church too much, etc. I think now my sufferings are more Christ centered where as before they were self-centered sufferings.

Just my thoughts!

[pippin]

I think the wide path also consists of "feel good" Christians, those who go by feelings, and those who rely on an experience of getting saved years ago.

[Alma]

"God, in his unfathomable decrees, often allows it to be that those who have expended most effort in accomplishing some work do not enjoy its fruits here on earth; God reserves all their joy for eternity"

The world encourages us to expect fruits, applause, success, but God wants us to work for Him without expecting worldly rewards that vanish quickly, but the divine rewards that will last for eternity!

A priest used to encourage us to try to do every day something good for others that nobody noticed, only God, and offer it to Him with pure love. It is a way of getting used to doing good things without expecting earthly recognition.




Alma

[mommyof4]

new thread

http://forums.catholic.com/showthrea...70#post3014570