What is the official belief of the church on the after life? Will families be together in heaven or will we even know each other? Will we know that some of our family did not make it to heaven? thanks.

-- sherry gammon (don.sherry@frontiernet.net), August 17, 2003

Answers

Jmj
Hello, Sherry.

Your questions cover some broad ground. I strongly recommend that you click here and read the (reasonably short) section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that speaks of the "last things" (death, judgment, heaven hell, purgatory, etc.).

If that section of the CCC misses something important to you, please come back here and ask about it.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 17, 2003.

That helps with some of my Questions but.... will we remember each other after we die? will i remember that "mike " is my brother....that "kathy" is my mother>>> etc...??????? will our relationships as a family continue or how will they be?? will we even remember we were related on the earth?

-- sherry gammon (don.sherry@frontiernet.net), August 17, 2003.

-I too am interested in this discussion; however, have only question (s) to add.

--Knowing that what is binding here on earth is binding in heaven; - further, that another marriage is possible after a spouse is deceased -this does suggest the answer(s)regarding families, marriage etc in heaven are not simple.

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), August 17, 2003.

Dear Sherry,

Though there are some aspects of the afterlife that we simply don't know, because God has not chosen to reveal them, there are a number of things that have been revealed, and other things we can reasonably assume, based upon the available evidence.

We will surely recognize and know one another in heaven, since we will not lose our individuality. We will still be the same people there whom we are here. Otherwise, devotions to individual saints would be meaningless. If Peter and Paul and John and Elizabeth simply became "generic inhabitants of heaven", there would be no point in our addressing them by name; but they didn't. Peter is still Peter, and Paul is still Paul. We can recognize them as such from here, in prayer, so surely they also recognize each other as individual persons. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes heaven as "communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels, and all the blessed". It further states that "they retain, or rather find, their true identity, their own name". Having said that however, the Catechism also states that "This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description". Scripture tells us that "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him".(1 Cor 2:9) So again, there is a great deal we cannot know.

Will our relationships as a family continue? No. Such relationships are earthly in nature. Such "special", intense relationships will not be experienced in heaven precisely because we will be perfected in love. On earth, every one of our relationships is imperfect, even the most special ones. In heaven, none of our relationships will be flawed by greed, jealousy, resentment, pride, indifference, or any of the other vices which flaw our earthly relationships. Therefore, every relationship with every other person there will be perfect, far more perfect and intense than any earthly relationship, and therefore equal. This idea is expressed in the vows which create a marriage, the most intense human relationship there is. We marry "until death do us part", not "for eternity". This earthly relationship ends at the death of one of the spouses. Jesus Himself, when questioned about marriage in heaven, said "... in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven". (Matthew 22:30) If marriage itself, the ultimate human relationship and the very core of family life, does not exist there, then it is reasonable to assume that "lesser" human relationships don't either.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 17, 2003.

Hi Paul

I was under the impression that our earthly reltionships while flawed will not be flawed in heaven because the earthly imperfections are know and rejoiced in heaven (without jealously envy etc) for each of us is filled with all the gladness one is capable of.

Ive never thought about what heaven would be like, a quick flick in my catechism says

"it will be a life of rich interpersonal love. Our being will not be dissolved from its personal autonomy and individuality into some divine substance. We shall remain persons, personally sharing the intense love of the personal God. Thus scripture speaks often of eternal life under the image of a banquet and often as a wedding meal and Christ is present as the Bridegroom. Persons and personal love endure forever(cf.1 Cor 13.8)

ARe you able to provide a reading list of essays that expands on my catechism on what heaven might be like( I tried google without much luck) somewhere online.

Thankyou

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), August 18, 2003.

Sherry, thank you for reading the Catechism passage that I linked for you.

In your original message, you asked: "Will we know that some of our family did not make it to heaven?"
It is likely that, through our witnessing the general judgment at the end of time, we will be aware of the fate of each person who has ever lived -- even the possible damnation of some friends or family members. However, always remember this ...
Heaven is a place/state of perfect bliss, with no sorrow. Therefore, for people in heaven, the knowledge of the eternal loss of loved ones will not result in any feeling of incompleteness or sadness. We will know that God's justice and mercy have been exercised in a perfect way, and we will be completely satisfied and happy.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 18, 2003.