nor the length of time fatigue in this company. selves, and there is such a clatter that, as the saying is, one can hardly hear himself talk. No; according to the words of St. John, “crying shall not be any more;”[1] there will be no shouting in heaven; all shall assemble in the most perfect order, and see and know each other clearly and completely as if they had been the most intimate friends on earth; and they shall associate with each other as pleasantly as if there were only two or three together. Nor will the length of time cause any weariness or fatigue in this society, as is so often the case with us on earth, because the friendship and love of the elect are founded on the immutable God. Thus through all eternity the joy of this banquet shall be as great and unchangeable as in the beginning. Oh, what bliss! Who shall understand it? Thus united and bound in the ties of the most tender love and affection, to live always with God, to associate with God as with a most dear friend!
So that the society of the blessed shall cause unspeakable happiness. Poor heart! according to the words of the Holy Ghost, thou findest a great treasure on earth if thou hast even one well-meaning friend; how wilt thou then be able to grasp that treasure in heaven, when thou shalt possess in the most intimate friendship so many thousands of thousands of elect souls, so many millions of the most beautiful angels, the Mother of the Lord, and Christ Himself, the Son of God? O my God! what joy and happiness await me in that most blissful and delightful society! If I am now so attracted by the friendly words of a mortal man whose manners are affable and whose company I love, being assured moreover that he means well with me, how will it be when I see myself surrounded for eternity by so many friends who have all the same intentions and inclinations as I, who are all one heart with me, whom I shall love most perfectly from the bottom of my heart, and who shall all most certainly love me in the same manner? who shall rejoice because it is well with me as I shall rejoice at their good fortune? who shall intone with me as with one mouth the undying song of jubilee: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come”?[2] Alleluia! True are thy words, O holy Prophet David: “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, O Lord! they shall praise Thee forever and ever,”[3] and rejoice with Thee!
