Eighth meditation. Heaven

First point.

Reflect that God, who is more inclined to reward than to punish, will bestow infinite glory upon His elect; He will place them in, His triumphant kingdom. O how delightful is this abode! It is a paradise of beauty, splendor, and happiness. " O city of God, holy Jerusalem/' says St. * Augustine, " how transported will my soul be to behold thy glory, thy beauty, thy gates, thy walls, thy streets! Thy mansions are of precious stones, thy gates of fine pearls, thy streets of most pure gold; nothing enters into thee which is not most perfect. In short, 0 holy Jerusalem, thou

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art truly beautiful, and sweet in thy delights."

Second point.

Reflect how good it is to see this city, in which the great King is seated on His throne, surrounded by His blessed servants. There we behold the choirs of angels singing hymns, and the full assembly of the celestial citizens; there are the venerable troop of prophets, the full number of the apostles, the victorious army of innumerable martyrs, the august rank of pontiffs, the sacred body of confessors, the true and perfect religious, holy women, humble widows, pure virgins. Their glory is not equal; but their bliss is the same, for in heaven reigns full and perfect charity.

Third point.

Reflect that for all eternity these blessed souls will enjoy supreme happiness; that

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God gives Himself to them in His entirety; and that the eternal Son says benignly to His Father: " Father, I wish that they whom Thou hast given Me may remain eternally with Me, and that they may behold the light which I received from Thee before the creation of the world." And addressing His dear children: "Have I not told you that whoever would love Me, would be loved by My Father, and that we would manifest ourselves to him?" Then this holy company, inundated with delight in the bosom of the divinity, will chant an eternal Alleluia of gratitude and praise to their Creator.

Affections.

I salute you from afar, 0 my holy mother Jerusalem, filled with all beauty, illuminated by the Sun of justice! The pure and immaculate Lamb is your beauti-

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ful and resplendent light, your brightness, and all your beatitude. O God of life, how desirable is Thy palace! That is the place in which Thou diff usest Thy delights. Ah! wretched moment of this mortal life, I cannot love you, except so far as you aid me to arrive at this blessed eternity. Alas! how wearisome to me is the earth, and how displeasing are its pleasures, when I turn my eyes toward you, O my beloved Sion!

Blessed courtiers of this great King, you realize now, in the joy of Our Lord, that he who is faithful in little is placed over many things. Ah, tell me by what path have you arrived at this happy abode? Some by patience, by faith, by hope, by meekness, but all and every one by charity and humility. I am placed here below to ascend the same steps by the practice of the holy virtues. Grant me your assistance, lest my frailty should cause me rather to fall back than to ascend to your much desired and beautiful assembly.

Courage, my soul, let us labor and combat! The blessed kingdom is bestowed only upon conquerors. But, O my God, Thou art my beatitude, therefore I desire Thee alone, Thou God of paradise, and not the paradise of God. Ah, what a favor, to behold forever the Spouse in His glory, the Lord face to face, to love and to bless Him eternally I