Expert: Michael Clark, Ph.D. - 9/16/2004

Question
Two questions:

What, in your opinion, do you think our purpose will be in heaven?  I started thinking about this while discussing heaven with my Mormon friend.  Of course they believe we will be married and will eternally procreate.  What will we be doing in heaven and why don't we believe marriage will last forever?

Do we as Catholics believe we will progress in heaven?  Like grow and become more perfect in heaven.  Or will we already be perfect once we reach heaven?

Thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Lisa.. this is a matter mostly of speculation. Of course, Catholics believe that heaven exists. And we believe that we can all get a taste of its character and quality while here on Earth. But as to "what we do" in heaven, I imagine this would depend on our created individuality.

Catholic teaching says that once we've been purified in purgatory we enter heaven, and that's pretty well it. But if we can get glimpses of heaven while here on Earth, I suppose that we can also get glimpses of it while in purgatory.

I, myself, tend to think of it as a sort of rotating schedule in both purgatory and heaven. As we do different chores and enjoy different pleasures on Earth, my guess is that we might undergo a similar kind of rotation in the next life--only the works and enjoyments would differ from earthly ones.

As for the character of the work, Catholics are taught that one of the major works of heaven is interceding for souls on Earth, and possibly for those in purgatory and even hell. Perhaps this kind of prayer tires a soul, so it gets replenishment by becoming absorbed in God's glory for a time. How can time exist in heaven? Well, that enters into the whole mystery aspect. I think our trying to fully understand heaven is like an embryo trying to understand the music it hears through his or her mother's belly. Unless we're extremely rare saints receiving powerful visions, our full understanding just has to wait!

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1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

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Catholics don't believe that marriage lasts forever because in the New Testament we're said to be like angels, neither male nor female.

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Matthew 22:30
"For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Mark 12:25
"For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

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Feel free to follow up on any points. I'm writing this late at night and am a bit sleepy!

MC