The Happiness Of Heaven By A Father Of The Society Of Jesus F J Boudreaux Transl

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

"The Happiness of Heaven-By a Father of the Society of Jesus" is a classic religious studies text by F. J. Boudreaux. Many books, owing to their special character, are designed for only a small circle of readers. But topics involving general and vital interests deservedly claim the attention of all persons. Such is the subject of the present work--"The Happiness of Heaven." For who is he that, believing in the existence of that blessed abode, does not hope eventually to arrive there? What sublime descriptions do not the Holy Scriptures give us of the blessed City of God! Her wails are built of jasper-stone; but the City itself is of pure and shining gold, like to clear crystal glass. And the foundations of the City are adorned with all manner of precious stones. Her gates are pearls. The very streets are transparent as glass. This glorious City has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in her; for the glory of God is her light.

It seldom falls to the lot of a Catholic Publisher to issue from his press a book, which, while it possesses the true, substantial merit of genuine Catholic literature, is at the same time graced with the novelty, the absorbing interest which at once command the attention on the Public, and place the book in a high and permanent position before the world. Such has been our good fortune in the publication of "THE HAPPINESS OF HEAVEN." It is a book which was long wanted: a thorough, systematic treatise on a subject of the most vital importance: a book which gives us all that Catholic Theology teaches about heaven, and gives it in an authentic shape, with text, references and citations in all scholastic completeness; and yet in a form adapted to the humblest capacity. It is indeed, as one of its reviewers so happily calls it, "The spiritual Geography of heaven, giving us such a knowledge of that blessed country, as we can acquire at this distance," and showing forth its beauties, its loveliness, its thousandfold bliss in a manner so clear, so winning, so unconquerable attractive, that earth pales into insignificance before those dazzling splendors, and our hearts long to be where our real treasure is. When we have read this book and studied it, (for a single perusal of it will not satisfy us,) we know something of that heavenly Paradise which is to be the eternal abode of the Elect, and knowing it, we must love and desire it,-we must submit with patience, if not with joy, to the trials of this life, which are to be there so gloriously rewarded,-we must sigh for the moment which is to admit us into that Paradise of endless delights and of imperishable beauty. I. The Beatific Vision II. In the Beatific Vision, "We shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is." III. In the Beatific Vision, our Intellect is glorified, and our Thirst for Knowledge completely gratified IV. In the Beatific Vision, our Will is also to be glorified, and then we shall be happy in loving and being loved V. The Beauty and Glory of the Risen Body VI. The Spirituality of the Risen Body VII. The Impassibility and Immortality of the Risen Body VIII. Several Errors to be avoided in our Meditations on Heaven IX. The Life of the Blessed in Heaven X. Pleasures of the Glorified Senses XI. Social Joys of Heaven XII. Will the Knowledge that some of our own are lost, mar our happiness in Heaven? XIII. The Light of Glory XIV. Degrees of Happiness in Heaven XV. Degrees of Enjoyment through the Glorified Senses XVI. The Glory of Jesus and Mary XVII. The Glory of the Martyrs XVIII. The Glory of the Doctors and Confessors XIX. The Glory of Virgins and Religious XX. The Glory of Penitents and Pious People XXI. The Eternity of Heaven's Happiness