Theological Foundations new file

187 The Eschatological Direction and moves it to a different place. If the condemned were allowed to do the same in order to be relieved from their punishment, if such a moun- tain were already moved somewhere else in this manner, these poor wretches would be full of joy hoping for an end to their torment. But, alas, such an end will never come and they will continue to suffer for ever. Therefore, we must pray with St. Augustine: “Lord, burn here, cut here, but pardon for ever.” 45 But this terrible reality of eternal damnation does not have to be man’s ultimate fate. His destination is meant to be the holy city of Jerusalem as described in the apocalyptic vision (cf. Rev 21, 9-27) — the eternal dwelling of all the heavenly spirits and saints, radiating with the glory of God. The walls of this city are a hundred and forty-four cubits long, built from jasper, its foundations adorned with every precious jewel. The twelve gates are twelve pearls, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass. The temple of the city is the Lord God theAlmighty One and the Lamb. “The inhabitants of the City are the Lord’s angels, saints — both men and women — among whom there is now and will always be such peace and love that any good of one inhabitant is con- sidered to be common good. Each one of them feels such joy because of the merits, the glory and the happiness of another as if he himself were experiencing this happiness. There is no envy or jealousy there, but everything is a common good to all.” 46 Father Papczynski concludes his meditation upon the ultimate affairs of man with a thought that all the goods in which the saints in heaven share are nonetheless something lesser than the privilege to see God. After all, He is the source of all glory and happiness in which the inhab- itants of heaven share, and the entire heavenly heritage, which the Savior of the world promised to his followers, is contained in this one exalting vision, as stated in the book of Revelation: “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more; they shall need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 22, 4-5). 47 The purpose of Father Papczynski’s very realistic teaching about the