The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
Did you know that there were “degrees of glory” in heaven? This is something I remember hearing about, but wasn’t sure was actually true. After all, heaven is the place where every worthy soul spends eternity in perfect harmony and bliss with God. There is no sadness, pain or sorrow. The sights, sounds and smells are unlike anything a human brain can imagine or even likely articulate.
So what about these degrees of glory?
In its “Decree on Justification,” the Council of Trent (1545-1563) affirmed that the faithful will experience heaven differently, based on the merit of their good works, and criticized those who taught differently. (Council of Trent, “Decree on Justification,” canon 32, as cited Deferrari, Denzinger: The Sources of Catholic Dogma, 261 [no. 842].) Earlier in the Decree, the Council noted several Scripture passages that teach
about the importance of good works regarding our enjoyment of heaven, such as Romans 2:6, which says that God “will render to every man according to his works.” (Ibid., “Decree on Justification,” chapter 16, as cited in Deferrari, Denzinger: The Sources of Catholic Dogma, 258 [no. 810].)
Our eternal destiny, including our reward in heaven, is indeed determined by our state of holiness at the time of our death. True devotion to the Rosary, which comes from frequently meditating on its mysteries and the life of Christ, is a blueprint for holiness.
If Our Lady is telling, no… PROMISING, us that the faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven, doesn’t that make the desire to become faithful to it stronger?
It certainly does me!
