ese pleasures, as well as those of the Beatific Vision, are
certainly beyond our comprehension. Still, we may form some idea of
them by reflecting on the exquisite delights which reach our soul
through our senses, in our present state of imperfection. They are so
fascinating that the world runs wild with their intoxication. What,
then, must they be in heaven, where everything is perfect? For, in
that world of God's magnificence, both the senses and their
respective objects exist in their highest perfection, which is far
from being the case here below.

Now, give free scope to your imagination. Let it roam among the
blessed, and flutter from creature to creature. Build up all you can
of pure pleasure, and you will never reach any more than the dimmest
and faintest shadow of the reality. Gaze upon the glorious body of
Jesus Christ, the most perfect and lovely that ever came from the
hand of God. It is the very sun that gives beauty to the whole of
heaven. Then contemplate the transcendent beauty of the Immaculate
Mother, who, next to Jesus, is clothed with the greatest glory. Feed
your eyes upon that countless multitude of saints. They are all
beautiful, because they have all risen with a body glorified after
the likeness of Christ's glorious body. Each one has a beauty and
perfection of his own, according to his merits; and the very lowest
is clothed with a loveliness far superior to anything ever seen in
this world.

If there is a rush to see beautiful objects, grand and sublime
sights, magnificent scenery, and the works of art, on account of the
intense pleasure enjoyed through the sense of sight, what shall we
say of the exquisite pleasures in store for that sense in heaven!
Then again reflect how very captivating, soothing, and enlivening
music is. The ear revels in it, and pours into the soul torrents of
harmony, which make her, for the time, altogether forget the outer
world. So captivating is it, that hours pass by unheeded, and she
would almost fancy it is the echoes of angels' voices she hears.
What, then, must heavenly harmony be, if our imperfect music is so
delightful? Think, also, how exquisitely the odors of flowers,
incense, and all manner of perfumery produce a soothing effect upon
man, banishing cares, and infusing a new life into him. What must
those pleasures be in heaven?

We have already seen that, in heaven, there is to be neither eating
nor drinking, as we now understand these two actions. But