Letters

Vision of Heaven?

Peter Harris

Contents - Jul 2013 - Buy a copy now Homily: Saints John Fisher and Thomas More: from Pope Pius XI's canonisation homily Cardinal Pell's candid responses to Victorian Parliament grilling - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World Youth: Melbourne's young adult ministry continues its revival - Br Barry Coldrey Paul VI: Humanae Vitae: still prophetic after 45 years - Anne Lastman Cardinal Ouellet's Australian lecture: rediscover human nature - Owen Vyner Social media: Catholic activism and the AussieMite affair - Damian Wyld Formation: Future priests learn about the RCIA process - Rev Dr Elio Capra SDB Obituary: Vale Fr Paul Duffy SJ (1931-2013) - Anna Krohn Human dignity: Defence of marriage must be linked to defence of parenthood - Denise Hunnell Musicae Sacrae: The essential role of music in the Mass - Ronan Reilly Parody?: Anti-Catholic hate speech, Aussie Style (Move on, nothing to see here) - R.J. Stove Letters: Vision of Heaven? - Peter Harris Letters: Mr Hyde's lesson - John Ballantyne Letters: Healthy families vital - Brendan Keogh Letters: Finding true unity - Didymus Astle Letters: Matter of conscience - Arnold Jago Letters: Marriage simply is ... - Brian A. Coman Letters: Guilt-free sin - Paul Voskulen Letters: Offensive advert - Helen F. Daniel Letters: Contact your candidates - Gerard Calilhanna Letters: Christian civil rights - Name and Address Supplied Books: SAINTS WHO RAISED THE DEAD: True Stories of Four Hundred Resurrection Miracles - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: ST JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA AND THE ORIGINS OF OPUS DEI - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Benedict XVI: Sts Peter and Paul, two pillars of the Church

Winsome de Jong (May AD 2000) said that the explanation given by Cardinal Pell and Archbishop Mark Coleridge, when asked their definition of Heaven on ABC's Q&A, would not "win over the man in the street." Winsome, I too would need a Diploma in Theology to understand your vision of Heaven: "... souls being transformed into a state of Grace and then they enter a Heaven."

You said, "Heaven is to know the truth and purity of God's wisdom." I believe I know the truth and purity of God's wisdom and do not experience Heaven though I consider myself reasonably intelligent. To me, Heaven is simply the abode of God, wherever that may be, together with the spirits of those who have lived by His commandments.

Returning to Cardinal Pell, I did not see him on Q&A, but was told he gave an enlightened and polished interview.

PETER HARRIS
Tweed Heads, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 26 No 6 (July 2013), p. 15