PTER XII.

WILL THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SOME OF OUR OWN ARE LOST, MAR OUR HAPPINESS
IN HEAVEN?

This is a difficult question to answer satisfactorily, on account of
our instinctive feelings of natural affection, which arise, and, like
a mist, obscure our judgment. Nevertheless, the difficulty is much
lessened, and even entirely removed from some minds, at hast, by the
following considerations.

1. Our happiness, even in this world, does not depend on the
happiness of those who are bound to us by the ties of kindred or of
friendship. This is especially the case when their unhappiness
proceeds from their own misdeeds. In such a case, we even inflict the
punishment ourselves, and feel satisfied to see them suffer according
to their deserts. Thus a father banishes from the paternal roof a son
or a daughter who has committed a deed that has brought disgrace upon
the family. And what is more, the whole family ratify the terrible
sentence. The presence and happiness of that brother or sister is no
longer necessary for their own happiness. Again, a husband banishes
from his presence an unfaithful wife, whom he had formerly loved as
his own life. While she was pure, it seemed to him that he could
never be happy without her; and now her society has become a positive
hinderance to his happiness. Therefore she must go and live alone in
her disgrace. It is a just punishment for her infidelity.

If such is the case in this world, why not in heaven? Those of our
own who die in sin appear before God in disgrace. He disowns them as
unworthy children, or as unfaithful spouses, and as such He banishes
them from the kingdom of glory; and we shall undoubtedly ratify the
just sentence. Nor will their wretchedness, which is the work of
their own hands, disturb our peace or mar our happiness.

2. In heaven, we shall be like God, because we shall see Him as he
is. This moral transformation, as we have already seen, is the work
of the Beatific Vision. By that glorious vision, and consequent union
with God, we shall participate in all the attributes of God which are
communicable to a rational nature. One of these attributes is
justice--that is, the power of judging as God does, without passion,
prejudice, or any of those motives which, in this world, render our
judgments rash, unjust, or partial. Not only shall we be clothed with
the power of judging justly, but with it we shall have a desire that
every one be rewarded or punished according to h