How much diligence, perseverance and sacrifice many will work to attain an earthly goal (e.g. a career, a degree, a prized trophy). This is because the goal to us is something very desirable, the fruit of which is something we enjoy in this world. Yet, how insignificant are these goals compared with the infinite and eternal prize offered to each of us in the next life; and how few people work with the same diligence, perseverance and sacrifice to attain it. And yet, our entire life on earth is but a time to prepare for that moment of entrance into eternal life. So we are at choice as to whether we squander these precious years, being preoccupied mainly with passing pleasures and temporal projects. Or we can use them well, keeping our mind and heart fixed on that eternal goal.
No matter how rich we are, we cannot buy our way into Heaven, it is a free gift from Jesus. But like any gift, it isn’t ours until we choose to accept it from Him. Accepting the gift in order to gain Heaven comes with a price – we are to live our life as Jesus showed us by His example, and we are to obey the Ten Commandments, along with the great commandment of love. Jesus was Love during His life on earth, and we are called to be the same. I know that the acts of love that we have shown throughout our life will count the most with Jesus when we appear before Him at our judgment.
When our life on this earth ends, we will no longer be able to add or subtract from our preparation to enter into the next life. The state of our soul will be fixed for all eternity. For us who die in the state of grace, the capacity of the soul to enjoy the beatitude of heaven eternally will be determined by the extent that the grace received at baptism has grown when we leave this world. We take from this world only the graces that we have merited by our faithfulness in this life, including masses attended, rosaries said, devotions, acts of kindness towards others, the love that we have spread around this planet, and whatever we have done to make a difference.
Every soul in heaven will be perfectly happy, with their mind and heart in direct union with God. As Pope Benedict XII declared in his Constitution “Benedictus Deus, the Blessed in heaven “see God’s essence directly, and face to face [the Beatific Vision], and thus the souls of the departed enjoy the divine nature, and are thereby rendered truly happy in the possession of eternal life and peace.”
The Blessed will see in the beatific vision all that in any way concerns them, and whatever they rightfully desire to know. They will see the love of the Heart of Jesus for mankind in redeeming us, and they will comprehend the swords of sorrow that pierced our Blessed Mother’s heart. Jesus will be the intimate personal friend of all who enter Heaven.
In the beatific vision the Blessed will know whatever they will want to know concerning their families, their friends, the projects they left behind. They will know when prayers are offered on their behalf, and when their intercession is being sought before the throne of God.
In the beatific vision, nothing will ever be able to interrupt the awareness, praise and adoration of God by the Blessed. Likewise, friendships of family and friends begun here on earth will continue in heaven.
The Blessed in heaven will be able to communicate with the angels somehow – there will be a communication of knowledge and sharing of love. We will have the eternal friendship and companionship of our guardian angel that helped us in many ways during our life on earth.
The Blessed in heaven will see God in every creature, in every human soul and angel in that heavenly kingdom.
(Note: Considerable material in this article is from Fr. Paul A. Duffner, O.P.)