esentium, quamvis magis a longinquo sentire possint corpora
gloriosa, quam non gloriosa: nec tamen per motum aliquid deperibit
eorum beatitudini quae consistit in Dei visione, quem ubique praesentem
habebunt.--S. Thom., Suppl., q. 84, art. 2.

From all this sound theology it is evident that our union with God in
the Beatific Vision, far from suspending or destroying the activities
of our nature, will rather increase and perfect them. It will do so,
first, by taking away from soul and body whatever now makes us
sluggish; and, secondly, by adding to our now existing faculties
supernatural powers, which will give to our nature its highest degree
of perfection and similitude to God, who is all activity.

We must be careful to remember all this; otherwise it will be
impossible for us ever to understand how the saints can possibly
enjoy each other's society, rejoice at the conversion of sinners,
listen to delightful music, enjoy the pleasures of the glorified
senses, and otherwise exercise all the faculties and powers of their
nature. The little glimpse of heaven given in the Apocalypse,
certainly does not represent the saints and angels as inactive
statues. On the contrary, all is life and a wonderful activity.

We are now prepared to meditate upon the integral happiness of
heaven, which includes the resurrection of the body. This is the
happiness which is to gratify every rational appetite of man.

CHAPTER IX.

THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED IN HEAVEN.

Having examined the glorious gifts with which the risen body is
clothed, and seen that it perfects the soul in all her operations;
understanding, moreover, that the glorified senses are to contribute
their share to the happiness of man--we shall now consider the happy
life of the blessed in heaven, including the resurrection. But,
remember, it is not a new life that is now to occupy our thoughts. It
is a continuation of the same life that was begun the moment the
vision of God flashed upon the soul. This heavenly life, which was
enjoyed by the soul alone before the resurrection, is now enjoyed by
the whole man, in its fulness and perfection.

If you dig in a dry and barren spot, and happen to strike a vein of
living water, it bubbles up, overflows, and moistens the surrounding
earth, clothing it with beautiful verdure and smiling flowers. So it
is in the resurrection. The life which had been concentrated in the
soul alone, overflows to the body, giving to it life, bea