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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
suffering in heaven?	Brenda	Sunday, December 12, 2004
Question: part of the devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so far as i understand them, are to help console and make up for the wrongs committed against them. they say Our Lord suffers a great deal by our neglect and abuse, and Our Lady suffers as well, even appearing at La Solette (sp?) weaping. but, if they are in heaven, how is it they can still suffer and need to be consoled? thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Brenda: In heaven there is no suffering or need for consolation. But when Jesus or Mary speak to us they do so in a way that we can understand. To say that Jesus suffers over our sin makes sense to the human mind and gives the message that our sin is contrary to God and is something God does not wish us to do. Yet, while Jesus or Mary prefer we not sin, they are totally happy. We find these sorts of images throughout the Bible when we are told that God is angry or even regretful. These are images for the human mind to help us understand a truth or a message. God Himself never changes. He does not actually become angry or regretful. There is an analogy to this even in human experience. I can say that I suffer when I see babies aborted. I wish this did not happen, but I recognize that this evil of abortion does exist. Recognizing this does not disturb my happiness. I can still feel spiritual joy and even emotional joy and contentment in my life while at the same time feeling sorrow for the aborted babies. As I said this is a flawed analogy, but maybe it gives us a hint of the state of heaven. Jesus and Mary desire us to love them and to be with them, but they remain in perfect happiness regardless. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

suffering in heaven?

Brenda

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Question:

part of the devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so far as i understand them, are to help console and make up for the wrongs committed against them. they say Our Lord suffers a great deal by our neglect and abuse, and Our Lady suffers as well, even appearing at La Solette (sp?) weaping. but, if they are in heaven, how is it they can still suffer and need to be consoled?

thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Brenda:

In heaven there is no suffering or need for consolation. But when Jesus or Mary speak to us they do so in a way that we can understand. To say that Jesus suffers over our sin makes sense to the human mind and gives the message that our sin is contrary to God and is something God does not wish us to do.

Yet, while Jesus or Mary prefer we not sin, they are totally happy.

We find these sorts of images throughout the Bible when we are told that God is angry or even regretful. These are images for the human mind to help us understand a truth or a message. God Himself never changes. He does not actually become angry or regretful.

There is an analogy to this even in human experience. I can say that I suffer when I see babies aborted. I wish this did not happen, but I recognize that this evil of abortion does exist. Recognizing this does not disturb my happiness. I can still feel spiritual joy and even emotional joy and contentment in my life while at the same time feeling sorrow for the aborted babies.

As I said this is a flawed analogy, but maybe it gives us a hint of the state of heaven. Jesus and Mary desire us to love them and to be with them, but they remain in perfect happiness regardless.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum