Dear Catholic Exchange:
On Nov 4, 2004, our 10-week-old son Matthew died unexpectedly. I have always felt like I have had a strong faith, but seem to constantly ask questions that I never even thought about before. I looked all through the Bible for answers. My question is about heaven. What will heaven be like? When I get there, will he know me? Will I get to look in his eyes or hold him again? How do we know that we will be with the ones we love when we get there? I understand that God may be the only one who knows the answers, but if you could shed some light or even refer me to the Bible so that I can read it. I'd appreciate your help.
God bless you.
Patty
Dear Patty,
First of all, please accept our deepest sympathy for the loss of your son Matthew.
As human beings here on earth, we have a limited understanding of heaven. No man can capture the reality and essence of heaven until he has experienced it personally. However, from the Scriptures and the teaching of the Church, we can know some things about heaven.
We know that we will be in the presence of God. Heaven is union with God, face to face, without the mediation of any creature (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1023-1029). Pope John Paul II calls heaven “a living, personal relationship with the Holy Trinity… our meeting with the Father which takes place in the risen Christ through the communion of the Holy Spirit.”
We know that heaven contains space, because it contains the glorified body of Christ (Mk. 16:19; Lk. 24:51), as well as the bodies of Enoch (Gen. 5:24), Moses (Jude 9), Elijah (2 Kings 2:9-12) and the Blessed Virgin Mary (Rev. 12:1). At the end of time, it will contain the glorified bodies of all the saints.
We also know that the saints in heaven are intimately connected to us through Christ, like branches on a vine. Scripture passages such as Luke 15:7 demonstrate that the angels and saints in heaven clearly do know and care about what is happening on earth. The saints surround us like “a cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1). So while we do not know who will be in heaven, we do know that we are and will be united with all those who are in heaven. Because the saints are united with us and more fully alive than we on earth are, it is reasonable to believe that your son will know you (and you him) when you get to heaven.
Further, Catholics believe that those who have died in God’s grace are not dead but truly alive, and are able to help us by their prayers. You may someday find that it was by the loving prayers of your son that you and your family are in heaven.
For a fuller understanding of heaven and the communion of saints, please see our Faith Facts Who Art in Heaven: The Dwelling Place of God and All in the Family — The Communion of Saints. You might also like to read Peter Kreeft’s books Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven, but Never Dreamed of Asking and The God Who Loves You.
United in the Faith,
Sarah Rozman
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
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