HEAVEN IS UNION WITH GOD, NOT AN ABSTRACTION

VATICAN CITY, JUL 21, 1999 (VIS) - This morning the Pope travelled by helicopter from Castelgandolfo to the Vatican where, at 10 a.m., the general audience took place in the Paul VI Hall. The theme of this Wednesday's catechesis was "Heaven, The Fullness of Communion with God."

Faith, said John Paul II, teaches us that at the end of our earthly existence "those who have welcomed God into their lives and who have sincerely opened themselves to His love, at least at the moment of death, will be able to enjoy full communion with Him."

"Participation in full intimacy with the Father, after completing our earthly life, comes about through insertion into Christ's paschal mystery."

The Holy Father recalled that "within the framework of Revelation we know that the 'heaven' or 'beatitude' in which we will find ourselves, is not an abstraction nor a physical place in the clouds, but a living and personal relationship of unity with the Holy Trinity. Heaven is our meeting with the Father which takes place in the Risen Christ through the communion of the Holy Spirit."

"It is important to always maintain a certain moderation in describing these 'ultimate realities,' as any description of them is always inadequate. Today, personalistic language manages to express, in a less inappropriate fashion, the peace and happiness which definitive union with God will bring us."

The Pope indicated that ultimate reality "can nonetheless be anticipated now, both in sacramental life, of which the Eucharist is the center, and in the gift of ourselves in fraternal charity. ... We know that in this world everything is subject to limits, but thoughts of our 'ultimate' reality help us to live better this 'penultimate' reality."

AG;HEAVEN;...;...;VIS;19990721;Word: 290;