LESSON 9: HEAVEN

"Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called, and should be the sons of God.  Therefore the world
knoweth not us, because it knew not Him.  Dearly beloved, we are now the
sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be.  We know, that,
when He shall appear, we shall be like to Him:  Because we shall see Him as
He is."  (1 John 3:1-2)

1. What is Heaven?
    The place of perfect happiness in the next world.

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of
man, what things God hath prepared for those that love Him."    (1
Corinthians 2:9)

2. Who will go to Heaven?
    Only those who have Sanctifying Grace in their souls at the moment of
death.

"Then shall the king say to them that shall be on His right hand:  Come, ye
blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world."    (Matthew 25:34)

3. What is the happiness of Heaven?
    It will consist in seeing God face to face and possessing Him in divine
love.

"We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face.  Now I
know in part:  But then I shall know even as I am known."    (1 Corinthians
13:12)

4. Why is the happiness of Heaven perfect?
    Because God made you for Himself and you can find perfect satisfaction
in Him alone.

"Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until
they rest in Thee."    (St. Augustine)

5. Will everyone have the same happiness in Heaven?
    No, the happiness of some will be greater than that of others, but
everyone will be as happy as he can be.

6. Why will some have greater happiness than others?
    Because some will see God more clearly.

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels,
and then He will render to every man according to his works."    (Matthew
16:27)

7. Why will some see God more clearly?
    Because they died with more Sanctifying Grace on their souls.

"And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor."
(1 Corinthians 3:8)

8. How, then, should you spend your time on Earth?
    Try to get as much Sanctifying Grace in your soul as you can before you
die.

"Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto
life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you."    (1 Corinthians
3:8)
"The night cometh, when no man can work."    (John 9:4)

9. Will there be any sorrow or pain in Heaven?
    No, nor will there be any sickness, temptation, or sin, but complete,
unending joy.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes:  and death shall be no
more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more."
(Apocalypse 21:4)

10. Will you know your family and friends in Heaven?
    Yes, and also the Angels and Saints.

"Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners:  But you are fellow
citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God."    (Ephesians 2:19)

11. What would keep you from getting into Heaven?
    Dying with a serious (mortal) sin on your soul.

"And there shall not enter into it any thing defiled, or that worketh
abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life
of the Lamb."    (Apocalypse 21:27)

12. How often should you pray to get to Heaven?
    Every day, since getting to Heaven is the purpose of life.

"As the heart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after
Thee, O God.  My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall
I come and appear before the face of God?"    (Psalm 41:2-3)

13. What is the chief difference between Heaven and Limbo?
The souls in Heaven see God face to face; whereas, those in Limbo do not.
Seeing God face to face is called the Beatific Vision.  It contains all
possible happiness and is unending.

PRACTICAL POINTS
1. You will never get bored or used to heaven because God is unlimited in
every way.  Nothing on this earth can completely satisfy you, whether it is
money or fame or pleasure, since everything created is limited.
2. Thinking often of Heaven, putting it before everything else, will give
you the correct scale of values, as well as peace of mind in this world.



LESSON 10: MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN

"Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God.  For God is
not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man.  But every man is tempted by
his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured.  Then when
concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.  But sin, when it is
completed, begetteth death."  (James 1:13-15)

1. What is sin?
    Sin is any thought, word, desire, action, or neglect (omission)
prohibited (forbidden) by the law of God.

2. When are you guilty of sin?
    To be guilty -
You must know that you are breaking God's law, and...
You must freely choose to do it.

3. How many kinds of sin are there?
    Two - mortal sin and venial sin.

4. What is mortal sin?
    A "big" sin, a serious violation of God's law.
Examples:  Getting drunk, adultery, stealing something expensive.

5. What does mortal sin do to the soul?
It drives the Sanctifying Grace out of your soul.

"What fruit had you then in those things, of which you are now ashamed?  For
the end of them is death."    (Romans 6:21)

6. Where will you go if you die with mortal sin on your soul?
    You will go to Hell forever.

"They shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death."    (Apocalypse 21:8)

7. Can all mortal sins be forgiven?
   Yes, if you are truly sorry for them and do everything necessary for
forgiveness.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all iniquity."    (1 John 1:9)

8. What is venial sin?
   A "small" sin, a less serious violation of God's law.

Examples:  Impatience, ordinary anger, stealing something cheap, getting
slightly drunk.

9. What does venial sin do to your soul?
   It does not drive out the Sanctifying Grace from your soul, but it does
make you less pleasing to God.

10. Where will you go if you die with venial sin on your soul (and no mortal
sins)?
   You will go to Purgatory.

11. Can a number of venial sins become a mortal sin?
   No.  (Except that a series of similar small, recurring thefts from the
same person amounts to one large theft and therefore can be a mortal sin.)

12. If you do something wrong, but do not know it is wrong, are you guilty
of sin?
   No, if it is through no fault of yours that you do not know it is wrong.

Example:  If you eat meat on Ash Wednesday, completely forgetting that it is
Ash Wednesday, you are not guilty of sin.

(Ed. note:  There are some things, though, that you know are wrong, even
though somebody may never have told you that they are wrong, such as birth
control or ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity.  Even though you may not have been told that they
are wrong, common sense or the natural law tells you that they are wrong.)

13. Are you guilty of sin if you intend to do something wrong, even though
you do not actually do it?
   Yes, because even the intention to offend God is a sin.
Example:  If you intend to rob a bank, but are frightened off by the guards,
you still commit just as bad a sin as if you had robbed the bank.

14. What should you do if you do not know whether something is mortal or
venial sin?
   You should not do it; otherwise, you will commit a mortal sin, because
you show yourself willing to offend God seriously.
Example:  You do not know whether eating too much is a mortal or venial sin,
but you go ahead and eat too much anyway.

15. What is temptation?
   Temptation is an attraction to commit sin.

16. Can you always overcome temptation?
   Yes, because no temptation can force you into sin, and God will always
help you.

"And God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which
you are able:  But will make also with temptation issue, that you may be
able to bear it."    (1 Corinthians 10:13)

17. What should you do when you are tempted?
   First, ask God to help you, and then, get busy doing something else.

"And lead us not into temptation.  But deliver us from evil."    (1
Corinthians 10:13)

18. How can you avoid temptations?
   Avoid all persons, places or things that may lead you into sin, and ask
God for actual graces.

19. What are actual graces?
   They are "helps" from God which enlighten the mind and strengthen the
will to do good and avoid evil.

"My grace is sufficient for thee:  For power is made perfect in infirmity."
(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Actual graces come and go, but Sanctifying Grace remains in the soul.
Sanctifying Grace is LIFE; actual grace is HELP.

20. Can you resist actual graces?
   Unfortunately, yes, for you are free, and God does not force you to use
them.

"And we helping do exhort you, that you receive not the grace of God in
vain."    (2 Corinthians 6:1)