Copyright © 2006 By Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.
Catechism Of The Catholic Church Reprinted With Permission.
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God’s Truth From The Catechism Of The Catholic Church – cont.
Those who are united with Christ will form the community of the redeemed, "the holy city" of God,
"the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."
637
She will not be wounded any longer by sin, stains, self-love,
that destroy or wound the earthly community.
638
The beatific vision, in which God opens himself in
an inexhaustible way to the elect, will be the ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and
mutual communion.
1046 For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and
man:
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God . . . in hope because
the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay. . . . We know that the whole creation
has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who
have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of
our bodies.
639
1047 The visible universe, then, is itself destined to be transformed, "so that the world itself,
restored to its original state, facing no further obstacles, should be at the service of the just,"
sharing their glorification in the risen Jesus Christ.
640
1048 "We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man, nor the way in
which the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away,
and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness
dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of
men."
641
1049 "Far from diminishing our concern to develop this earth, the expectancy of a new earth
should spur us on, for it is here that the body of a new human family grows, foreshadowing in some
way the age which is to come. That is why, although we must be careful to distinguish earthly
progress clearly from the increase of the kingdom of Christ, such progress is of vital concern to the
kingdom of God, insofar as it can contribute to the better ordering of human society."
642
1050 "When we have spread on earth the fruits of our nature and our enterprise . . . according to
the command of the Lord and in his Spirit, we will find them once again, cleansed this time from the
stain of sin, illuminated and transfigured, when Christ presents to his Father an eternal and
universal kingdom."
643
God will then be "all in all" in eternal life:
644
True and subsistent life consists in this: the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit, pouring
out his heavenly gifts on all things without exception. Thanks to his mercy, we too, men that we
are, have received the inalienable promise of eternal life.
645
1051 Every man receives his eternal recompense in his immortal soul from the moment of his
death in a particular judgment by Christ, the judge of the living and the dead.
1052 "We believe that the souls of all who die in Christ's grace . . . are the People of God beyond
death. On the day of resurrection, death will be definitively conquered, when these souls will be
reunited with their bodies" (Paul VI, CPG § 28).
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