in virtue of the
Beatific Vision--without which they could receive no additional
pleasure from creatures. Therefore the Beatific Vision is not only
the essential happiness of heaven, but it is also that which imparts
to the saints the power of appropriating all the other inferior joys
wherewith God completes the blessedness of his children. As this is a
point of importance, we shall endeavor to understand it more clearly
by an illustration.

A man who is gifted with perfect health of body and mind, not only
enjoys life itself, but he likewise receives pleasure from the
beauties of nature from literature, amusements, and society. Now,
suppose he loses his health, and is thrown on a bed of sickness. He
is no longer able to enjoy either life itself or its pleasures. What
is all the beauty of earthly or heavenly objects to him now? What are
amusements, and all the joys of sense, which formerly delighted him
so much? All these things are now unable to give him any pleasure;
because he has lost his health, which afforded him the power of
appropriating the pleasures of life. Therefore, we say that health is
essentially necessary, not only to enjoy life itself, but also to
relish its pleasures. So too in heaven. The Beatific Vision is
necessary not only to enjoy the very life of heaven, but likewise to
enjoy the accidental glory wherewith God perfects the happiness of
his elect. What, then, is this Beatific Vision? Is it an eternal
gazing upon God? Is it an uninterrupted "Ah!" of admiration? Or is
it a sight of such overpowering grandeur as to deprive us of
consciousness, and throw us into a state of dreamy inactivity? We
shall see.

"Beatific Vision" is composed of three Latin words, _beatus_, happy;
_facio_, I make; and _visio_, a sight; all of which taken together
make up and mean a happy-making sight. Therefore, in its very
etymology, Beatific Vision means a sight which contains in itself the
power of banishing all pain, all sorrow from the beholder, and of
infusing, in their stead, joy and happiness. We shall now analyze it,
and see wherein it consists; for it is only by doing so that we can
arrive at the clear idea of it, which we are seeking.

Theologians tell us that the Beatific Vision, considered as a perfect
and permanent state, consists of three acts which are so many
elements essential to its integrity and perfection. These are, first,
the sight or vision of God; secondly, the love of God; and thirdly,
the en