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93. The Happiness of Heaven: Mansions

1. After the resurrection of the body, the blessed inheaven will find an increase of happiness. For then their happinesswill be that of the complete man, body and soul, and not of thesoul alone.

2. The degrees of heavenly happiness are called mansions.A mansion is literally a remaining. It is a goal attainedin which the attainer rests or remains. It is the reaching of thehome for which one strives and is a remaining in it, a dwellingthere. Now the heavenly city or kingdom has "manymansions," as our Lord says (John 14:2). Each of the blessedfinds his mansion in the degree of reward and happiness which heattains in heaven.

3. The various mansions of heaven are distinguishedaccording to the degrees of charity (which is love and friendshipwith God by grace) in the blessed themselves. For in each of thesaints or blessed, their degree of charity determines the measureof the light of glory which is imparted to them; this, in turn,determines their degree of reward and happiness, that is, theirmansion.

"As the flesh is nourished by food, so is man supported by prayers"
St Augustine

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"Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise. "
Thomas á Kempis

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"The greatest glory we can give to God is to do his will in everything."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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