are happy. We must believe, moreover, that careless, and
even bad parents, negligent teachers, seducers of the innocent, and
writers of bad books, will eventually be admitted into heaven, if
they die truly repentant. We must believe, moreover, that all such
persons will be happy in heaven, no matter how many they have ruined,
for the simple reason that no unhappiness can ever find its way into
the abode of bliss.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE LIGHT OF GLORY.

Having, in the foregoing chapters, endeavored to form an idea of
heaven's happiness, we must now endeavor to understand something of
the different degrees in which each one of the blessed enjoys that
unspeakable beatitude.

It is an article of faith that every one in heaven, except baptized
infants, is rewarded according to his own personal merits, acquired
in this life by the assistance of God's grace. Baptized children, who
die before they reach the age of discretion, are admitted into
heaven, in virtue of their adoption as children of God on the day of
their baptism. But all others who have lived long enough to be
responsible or their deeds, besides being admitted there in virtue of
their adoption as children of God, are, moreover, rewarded according
to their own personal merits.

But, it seems to me, I hear you ask, Does not the happiness of heaven
consist in the Beatific Vision? Undoubtedly it does. And is the
little boy, who dies before he can make an act of faith, or of
charity, admitted to that glorious vision as well as the Apostle and
the martyr? Certainly he is. And the little girl, who dies before
reaching the age of discretion, is she too admitted to the vision of
God, as well as the Sister of Charity, the nun, and others who spend
their lives in teaching the ignorant and ministering to the poor?
Undoubtedly she is. And the murderer, who dies on the scaffold, after
making an act of perfect contrition, is he, too, eventually admitted
to the vision and possession of God? Yes, he, too, will see God face
to face, and be made happy by that glorious vision. Well, then, if
all see and possess God, how can there be a difference in the
happiness of the saints? Are they not all equally happy? This is the
question we are now to answer, by examining the meaning and the
nature of the Light of glory. This examination will make it evident,
that, though all see God, yet no two of the blessed enjoy precisely
the same degree or amount of happiness.

Theologians de