Heaven: communion and the beatific vision

Doctrine Concept

Heaven is perfect communion with the Trinity, the angels, and all the blessed. Christ opens this life through his death and Resurrection. The beatific vision means seeing God as he enables the redeemed to know him (CCC 1023–1029). Hell is definitive self-exclusion from this communion, whose chief punishment is eternal separation from God (CCC 1033–1035).

Scripture

1 John 3:2 — The redeemed will see God as he is; cited in CCC 1023.
1 Corinthians 13:12 — Face-to-face knowledge expresses the hope of full communion; cited in CCC 1023.

Primary sources

The Catechism describes heavenly life with this phrase:

CCC 1024 describes heaven as communion of life and love with the Trinity.

this communion of life and love with the Trinity
— Catholic Church, Catechism of the Catholic Church (1024), trans. English text published by the Holy See

Passage context and translation

The Catechism describes heaven as communion with the Trinity and the blessed; this excerpt represents Catholic teaching.

Before the excerpt

Context summary: The previous paragraph describes the purified living with Christ.

After the excerpt

Context summary: The paragraph continues by describing fulfillment and definitive happiness.

Wording checked against the linked English text. This is a contiguous excerpt; adjacent context is paraphrased, not quoted.

Sources and further reading

Vatican · CCC 1023–1029 · Heaven (Website)
Vatican · CCC 1033–1037 · Hell (Website)

Related records

Biblical images and final purification (Doctrine Concept)
Light expresses life with Christ (Doctrine Concept)
Hell and purifying fire are distinct (Doctrine Concept)
Particular judgment and final judgment (Doctrine Concept)
Grace initiates and sustains our response (Doctrine Concept)
Resurrection and a renewed creation (Doctrine Concept)

Open Heaven & Hell in the interactive atlas

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