The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-03

~ eAA0tLt tAIV hbSot
of tbe Galatians. TO the Colossians. 10 the
brethren in Thessalonica. and you Will hna
them full of illusions to the relations OF in'eh'-
Rence and of heart among the elect ana De-
tween these and their brethren on their way
10 their celestial abode. The BELIEF was SO
deeply rooted and SO vivid among the Chris
tians Of the first centuries that the martyrs
on their way to torture formulated IL IN 'her
farewell, 20 their brethren. In the third CEN
fury the great Bishop Of Carthage. Just before
his martyrdom. wrote these memorao'e WINS
Our home is Paradise and our ancestors. the
patriarchs. have preceded us thi'hei' n,
us hasten homeward to salute our forelathers'
We are awaited by a multitude OF persons oea,
to us, we are desired by many parents a'u
brothers and children. who assured Oh 'ne"
own immortal happiness. are kept anxious 'of
our salvation" (De Mortalita'e).
Pope ~. Gregory the Great. by whom Eng
land was gained to Catholicism. wrote these
memorable words: This mutual recosniuon
gives the crown to the recompense that every
man must receive. II makes the good rejoice
still more to see those rejoicing with ehe"
whom they loved here below. Happy ones
there Is something still more WONDERFUL De-
sides recognizing those that they have KNOWN
in this world. they will know those whom they
never knew on earth. For after all, what can
the elect In heaven be ignorant OF, since all
see there In full light the God who owe
all thingsl" Dialogues. 1. w..
The fathers OF the Church-Ambrose. Paui'-
mas Of Nola. John Chrysostom. Gregory OF
Nyssa and his brother Nazianzenas. Augustine
Jerome, St. Bernard have carved into
the imperishable brass OF tradition the faith
OF the Catholic Church in the mutual recog-
milton OF the elect. These great men ave
let their reason and their hearts speak in sub
lime pages, in which the vigor of the demon
~stration Is heightened by the ~splendor OF elo-
auence and the energy Of conviction.
Among modern writer's, Bossuet, that ex.
traordlnary genius. OF such exact, sure ana
austere doctrine, demonstrates this truth IN
the following terms: IF We enter as We should
into the spirit Of faith. we shall take the matters
OF this world. as If passing through. and when
those who are dear to us go TO God before us,
we shall not be inconsolable as II we had lost
them but we shall endeavor to make ourselves
worthy Of joining them In the place where
they await us. We must not allow ourselves
to be detected by q helpless grief Is though
We no longer had any hope. Thus II Is al-
lowable for the tenderness Of the faithful to
show sadness at the death Of their friends
though the emotion Of a passing grief. Per-
init the feelings Of humanity to let them shed
tears OF consolation soon dried by the joys
OF faith, which persuades us that Chris
tians who die. draw away from US a little in
order TO pass 10 a better life" (Bossuet, Sem
timents Touchant la Vie ct Ia Mort.)"
end this letter. already so long. by the
rapid and s~uccinct statement OF the doctrine
ON this subject by the most authoritative OF the
doctors Of the Catholic Church, st. Thomas
Aauinas, the Angel of the Schools.
God" says he in substance. Us the cause.
the means. and the measure of our affections. in
Heaven. We shall love God more than any
thing and any person. and We shall His creat-
ures. angels and men. in the measure CORE
spending to their resemblance and their union
TO God, for ii will always be God who is loved IN
His creatures which reflect In themselves His
projections. The more the Divine projections
shine in a reasoning creature the stronger and
the more intense will be our love for 1t. In
other words, the order of the love with which
an elect loves his God will be the measure Of
our affection for that elect"
Nevertheless each elect will preserve a special
friendship for those who were united to Him
on this earth by the ties OF relationship. Of SYM
pathy. Of esteem, of gratitude. -ln Heaven"
the great Doctor shows. AL the causes for.
an honest pure legitimate attachment persist. but
elevated and transformed by the glory OF God.
grace does not destroy Nature, but rests on 1t
an on a necessary support. And after a process
Of publication and Of transformation man re-
mains In Heaven amid glory and eternal bliss
with his natural projections and his super
natural Projections"
The Christian feels the ardent. intense. In
eradicable desire TO find again, to see, to love
In his Heavenly Home. those whom he has loved
here below. This desire. II is God Himself who
inspires Il, keeps II alive and rekindles II in the
depths OF our souls. low could God, the in
fallible wisdom, the boundiess Goodness, the
living Justice. the eternal Love. deceive our
legitimate hopes and break his promises' So I
conclude with st. Thomas Aquinas. I'm posst-
bile esi ~naturale desiderinm esse inans." 1t is
impossible that the Creator should not give full
and entire satisfaction 70 the natural aspira-
tons OF His creatures. tSt. Thomas Against the
Gentiles, Book ~ And I have the luminous.
invincible assurance Of the reality Of the rela.
tons of intelligence. Of heart. Of love among the
elect in the Heavenly Home.
Rev. Father TRIPIER Of the Freres Precheurs.
New YORK. May %. 1900.