Course 4, Chapter 54: General Summary. — Religion in time and in eternity

1. How should we consider religion?

1st, as a grand fact, which embraces all time, explains all things, and to which all things refer; 2d, as an immense benefit and the source of all the bless ings we enjoy.

2. How is religion the source of all the blessings we enjoy?

Because it is to her we owe our lights, virtues, salutary institutions, good laws, the saints, and all those men who have really been benefactors to their fellow men.

3. What must we conclude from this?

We must conclude that religion is divine; for a religion which makes men better, must be good; but it is £ood only because it is true; and true only because it is divine. Religion, therefore, which alone makes men better, and which alone has civilised them, is from God, and therefore divine.

4. What religion is it that alone has rendered men better and alone has civilised them?

The only religion which has rendered men better and civilised them, is the Catholic religion, to the exclusion of Arians, Mahometans, Protestants nnd philosophers; the Catholic religion, therefore, alone is good, alone divine.

5. What does religion propose to herself in civilis ing nations?

In civilising them, that is, rendering them better, more enlightened, and more happy, religion pro-

412 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

poses to lead them step by step to perfection, and to complete happiness in eternity, where they will receive the plenitude of the fruits of redemption.

6. How do you call this complete happiness to which religion conducts us?

It is called heaven, and it will be the complement of all lawful desires: 1st, for God, heaven will be the accomplishment of the wish expressed by the Saviour, Father, thy kingdom come; it Aviil be the com-. Elete manifestation of his glory; the reign of a, loving ither over his obedient children; in a word, God in heaven will be all in all things. 2d, for creatures, heaven will be the accomplishment of the wish expressed by St. Paul, in their name: All creatures groan expecting their deliverance from corruption, and their participation in the glory of the elect; heaven and earth will be renewed and clothed with a light and a beauty which we cannot conceive. 3d, for man, heaven will be the accomplishment of all his desires, for body and mind.

7. What does man desire for the body?

An agreeable habitation and splendid apparel: the heavenly Jerusalem will be our habitation, and our bodies will be robed in a raiment of glory and immortality more brilliant than the sun. Again, man desires for the body health, beauty, activity, life, and he stops at nothing to obtain these blessings; heaven will give us all these, without mixture of evil and for ever.

8. What does man desire for the mind?

To know much and know it clearly, and there is no effort he will not make to obtain this knowledge. In heaven we shall know all things and know them clearly.

9. What does man desire for the heart?

He desires to love and to be loved; for this we oftentimes sacrifice fortune and even life itself. In heaven we shall love and be loved by all that is most amiable.

10. What more do we desire?

We desire power and glory. In heaven we shall possess power and be crowned with a wreath more brilliant than all the diadems of kings on earth; in a word, heaven will be the restoration of all things to their primitive excellence, and their eternal repose in order.

11. What must we conclude from this, and from the whole Catechism?

That we ou^ht to love much and practise faith fully our holy religion, which renders us happy on earth, and leads us to perfect happiness in heaven.

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