n's nature, while it retains its own peculiar diamond nature and
individuality. This is an image of what takes place in the Beatific
Vision. While she was in this world, God had polished that soul, by
the sacraments and by sufferings; and now that she is in His
presence, and sees him as he is, she shines and sparkles in his light
with unspeakable splendor. She reflects and absorbs the divine light
and beauty of God. She is like God, because she sees Him as he is;
she is made a partaker of the divine nature, while she retains her
own human nature and personal identity.

But, let us again hear Lessius. Speaking of this communication of the
divine nature to man, he says "This communication begins in this
life, by the gifts of grace, especially faith, hope, and charity. By
these virtues we are not only made like to God, but God is also
united to us. It is perfected, however, in the next life by the gifts
of glory--namely, the light of glory, the vision of the Divinity,
beatific love, and beatific joy. For, by these, we attain our highest
similitude to God, and become perfectly sons of God, shining like the
Divinity, and exhibiting in ourselves the most excellent image of the
most Holy Trinity. For by the light of glory we are made like the
Father; by the vision of the Divine Essence and the Divine Persons,
we become like the Son; by beatific love we are made like the Holy
Ghost; by joy we become like the Godhead in beatitude, and thus the
participation of the divine beatitude is completed in us."*

* De Perf. Divin., lib. xiv. c. 1.

Now, Christian soul, meditate well on all this. Endeavor to fathom
the bliss of the saints when they see themselves like God in so
eminent a degree. Remember that you were created to enjoy the
unspeakable happiness of seeing God, and of being made a partaker of
the divine nature. But remember, too, that God, who created you
without your co-operation, will not save you without it. He never
will polish your soul into a jewel fit for heaven, in spite of
yourself. You must, therefore, co-operate with Him, and do his holy
will in all things. However painful may be the trials He sends you,
they are all so many strokes to take away some roughness or deformity
which would prevent your soul from being perfectly like Him. Every
act you perform, while in the state of grace, adds a new feature of
beauty to your soul, and therefore prepares her the better to receive
the finishing touch in the Beatific Vi