THE CHARITY OF SAINTS ON EARTH EQUALS AND EVEN OCCASIONALLY SURPASSES THAT OF SAINTS IN HEAVEN
The devout souls arrive at the harbour of eternal life after the toil and peril of this mortal life. There they have the highest and final degree of love which they can possibly attain. The final increase of charity is bestowed upon them as a reward of their merit. It is not only accorded to them in good measure but also in a measure pressed down and shaken together and running over (Lk 6.38) says Our Lord. The love that is given in reward is always greater in each individual than that which is given to the person for his merit. Hence each person shall possess more charity in heaven than it would on earth. Generally speaking, the practice of the least act of charity in the heavenly life will be much more happy and excellent than that of the greatest charity in this world. This is because among all the saints the practice of love is unceasing and without interruption. Whereas here below the greatest servants of God are torn and trampled by the vicissitudes of life. They are forced to suffer thousands of distractions which frequently block them in the practice of holy love.
In heaven, Theotimus, the loving attention of the blessed is firm, constant and inviolable. It cannot perish or decrease. Their intention is always pure, free from all mixture of any lower intention. In brief, the happiness of seeing God clearly and of loving Him unchangeably is unparalleled. Is there happiness in living amidst the perils, continuous sufferings, perpetual agitations and vicissitudes that must be suffered at sea? Who would ever equate such happiness with the comfort of a royal palace where one has everything one can wish for, where the delight is utterly beyond any wish?
Hence there is greater contentment, charm, sweetness and perfection in the practice of charity among the citizens of heaven than among the pilgrims of this miserable earth. But there have been some pilgrims fortunate enough on their pilgrimage. Their charity was greater than that of many saints already enjoying the eternal home. Surely the charity of St John the Apostle and the apostolic men was greater even while they lived here on earth. Their charity was greater than that of little children who have died in baptismal grace alone and now enjoy the eternal glory of heaven.
Usually shepherds are not as brave as soldiers. However, David, the shepherd boy who visited the camp of the Israelite army, though he found them all better trained than himself, was more brave than all the others (1 Sam 17: 38-39). Usually mortal persons do not have greater charity than the immortal. Yet there have been some mortal persons inferior to the immortals in the practice of charity but still excelling them in the habit of charity. When we compare a red hot iron and a lighted lamp, we would say that the iron has more fire and heat while the lamp has more flame and brightness. So also if we compare a child in glory with St John in exile or with St Paul in prison, we would say that the child has greater brightness and more light in its understanding. It has a great flame and an intense practice of charity in the will. But even on earth, St John and St Paul had a greater fire of charity and a greater warmth of affection.[1]
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[1] The comparison is between the habit of charity on earth and its fullness in heaven. While the charity of a child has reached its fullness in heaven (hence greater brighteness and light and practice), St John and St Paul have more habitual charity on earth than the child in heaven and hence more fire and warmth.