St. Catherine's Vision of the Eschaton, PT IV
The second half of the quote ties very nicely in with the first half.
St. Catherine goes from talking about the soul bringing joy to the body, but here she mentions what will happen. The body will pass through walls? Is that part of the glorified body? While it's really cool, and while it'll be great to be neither injured by fire or water, we must look at something else here.
In this passage St. Catherine mentions that these graces come from Grace Incarnate. It is through Christ that the body can be glorified. There is nothing that we can do on earth, apart from Christ, that will aid us in walking through walls. It is a mystery, although a very cool one, to think that one day we could be able to do that. But, it is even more interesting to think about how grace could make this happen.
When we think of the Transfiguration, we must wonder what the amazing reality of grace occurred that Sts. Peter, James, and John were able to behold the glorified Christ. It is simply amazing. They were able to see firsthand what the Final Resurrection would bring. And even more amazing, they probably remembered that event at their deaths, holding great joy in what was to come.
This grace so affected the soul, that it led St. Peter to be crucified upside down. It led him to his Calvary to "share in the sufferings of Christ." Grace affects the lives of saints and helps bring about amazing miracles: St. Joseph Cupertino's elevation at the consecration, St. Gerard's instant conflagration, St. Teresa of Avila's ecstasy, St. Catherine of Siena's wedding ring from Christ, St. Pio's bilocation to save an Italian city, St. Paul's conversion, St. Therese's purity, and the Blessed Mother's life in and of itself. All of these, whether showy miracles or not are examples of grace affecting the body of a person, whether it is through miraculous external or internal instances.
Grace has the power to convert the greatest sinner. Grace has the power to actuate the glorification of the body. We must contemplate this great thought. Grace can actually alter the physical nature of things. That is amazing. Christ is Grace Incarnate. We can see that through the Transfiguration, where Grace was shown Incarnate. We will hopefully all experience this too in the Eschaton.
What an amazing thing to be Catholic.
Finally, if you noticed that there was a section missing from the second half, I took it out because it is a great prayer. This is what St. Catherine says:
"The eye of the intellect is not sufficient to see, nor the ear to hear, nor thy tongue to tell of the good of the Blessed. Oh, how much delight they have in seeing [God], who is every good!"
St. Catherine goes from talking about the soul bringing joy to the body, but here she mentions what will happen. The body will pass through walls? Is that part of the glorified body? While it's really cool, and while it'll be great to be neither injured by fire or water, we must look at something else here.
In this passage St. Catherine mentions that these graces come from Grace Incarnate. It is through Christ that the body can be glorified. There is nothing that we can do on earth, apart from Christ, that will aid us in walking through walls. It is a mystery, although a very cool one, to think that one day we could be able to do that. But, it is even more interesting to think about how grace could make this happen.
When we think of the Transfiguration, we must wonder what the amazing reality of grace occurred that Sts. Peter, James, and John were able to behold the glorified Christ. It is simply amazing. They were able to see firsthand what the Final Resurrection would bring. And even more amazing, they probably remembered that event at their deaths, holding great joy in what was to come.
This grace so affected the soul, that it led St. Peter to be crucified upside down. It led him to his Calvary to "share in the sufferings of Christ." Grace affects the lives of saints and helps bring about amazing miracles: St. Joseph Cupertino's elevation at the consecration, St. Gerard's instant conflagration, St. Teresa of Avila's ecstasy, St. Catherine of Siena's wedding ring from Christ, St. Pio's bilocation to save an Italian city, St. Paul's conversion, St. Therese's purity, and the Blessed Mother's life in and of itself. All of these, whether showy miracles or not are examples of grace affecting the body of a person, whether it is through miraculous external or internal instances.
Grace has the power to convert the greatest sinner. Grace has the power to actuate the glorification of the body. We must contemplate this great thought. Grace can actually alter the physical nature of things. That is amazing. Christ is Grace Incarnate. We can see that through the Transfiguration, where Grace was shown Incarnate. We will hopefully all experience this too in the Eschaton.
What an amazing thing to be Catholic.
Finally, if you noticed that there was a section missing from the second half, I took it out because it is a great prayer. This is what St. Catherine says:
"The eye of the intellect is not sufficient to see, nor the ear to hear, nor thy tongue to tell of the good of the Blessed. Oh, how much delight they have in seeing [God], who is every good!"
Labels: Saints
posted by Matthaeus Evangelista at 9:48 PM
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