shall there be presented to the view! Many are of the opinion that we shall see the divine nature itself, not only with the mind, but also with the eyes of the body, which shall be supernaturally strengthened for the purpose of enabling them to behold a pure spirit; and this opinion is founded on the words of the Prophet Job by which he consoles himself in his misfortune seated on the dunghill: “I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I shall see my God. Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold.”[1] Be that as it may, theologians will take a long time to decide the question. Let us be satisfied then with this undoubted fact: that the whole divinity shall be manifested to the soul alone. In any case the eyes of the body shall find a heaven of pleasure quite enough to satisfy them when they see their companions in glory, who will then be most pure and beautiful beings. The soldiers of Holofernes were struck with astonishment when they saw the great beauty of Judith: “Their eyes were amazed, for they wondered exceedingly at her beauty.” Holofernes himself was quite captivated at the first sight of her: “And when she was come into his presence, forthwith Holofernes was caught by his eyes.”[2] Now if such an effect can be produced by a changeable beauty that must soon become the food of worms (and experience teaches that bodily comeliness almost bewitches and fascinates the beholders), how pleasing must it not then be to have continually before the eyes countless beauties in immortal and glorified bodies, who love each other most tenderly and are beloved in return! What joy and inexpressible bliss it will be for you, O eyes! to see the Queen of angels, the greatest Lady of the world, the most beautiful of mere creatures, the Virgin Mother of the Sovereign God, Mary herself in all her glory and majesty! When St. Denis saw her on earth, before she had put on the attributes of glory, if faitli had not kept him back, he would have adored her as God; so he wrote to St. Paul the apostle. And what a joyful sight shall be presented to our eyes in the glorified humanity of Jesus Christ, Our Saviour! Holy St. Chrysostom! the great object of thy wishes was to see “Rome flourishing, Paul preaching, and Christ in His mortal flesh.”[3] Oh, more than happy shall I be if one day with thee I
- ↑ Rursum circumdabor pelle mea, et in carne mea videbo Deum meum. Quem visurus sum ego ipse, et oculi mei conspecturi sunt.—Job xix. 26. 27.
- ↑ Erat in oculis eorum stupor, quoniam pulchritudinem ejus mirabantur nimis. Cumque intrasset ante faciem ejus, statim captus est in suis oculis Holofernes.—Judith x. 14, 17.
- ↑ Romam in flore, Paulum in ore, Christum in carne.
