Having trouble grasping the "Levels" and "degrees" of joy in heaven

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We are the containers who catch His grace. Those who are more holy will catch more grace in accordance to how much we cooperate with God. John Paul II and Mother Teresa are swimming pools. I am a dixie cup. To the degree we cooperate with God’s grace on earth at the moment we die – we will be made perfect in that grace and holiness. This is the reason there are “degrees” of heaven for us. We will all experience it to the level we are made capable and to the level we merit. But, all of our containers will be full.

But I am still finding it difficult to grasp how some in heaven can be “more happy” than others and others that are like little cups next to these pools are experiencing the same experience which is beholding God face to face. This troubles me because I also struggle with me being in the state of mortal sin and I cannot merit anything for myself but if I say for example many rosaries for souls in purgatory or offer my whole day to God for the reparation of Souls and do acts of mercy for my neighbor etc even though I cannot merit anything for myself can it still save and help souls?
 
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I read an article about this issue on CA some years back. They cited Eschatology by then Cardinal Ratzinger that explained it well.



I believe I read something from Fr William Most also that said something about God loving some ‘more’ than others. It was more about how much grace an individual receives as opposed to God picking favorites.

It’s all mysterious. I believe I also read something about heaven that said we will receive from God the love that we need. Some people ‘need’ more love than others.

 
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AltarSoldier said:
We are the containers who catch His grace. Those who are more holy will catch more grace in accordance to how much we cooperate with God. John Paul II and Mother Teresa are swimming pools. I am a dixie cup. To the degree we cooperate with God’s grace on earth at the moment we die – we will be made perfect in that grace and holiness. This is the reason there are “degrees” of heaven for us. We will all experience it to the level we are made capable and to the level we merit. But, all of our containers will be full.
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Is there anything that you’re aware of within Catholic Magisterium - which suggests this notion?
 
Matthew 16:27, 1 Corinthians 3:8 and 2 Corinthians 9

God gives us His grace, which is His divine life poured into our souls. When He gives us His life, He gives an infinite amount – similar to a never-ending waterfall of grace. Is this really against what the Church teaches? This seems as basic as it is. I don’t think that Heaven has a democracy so to speak but more of a kingdom with a hiearchy. Like the Angels.
 
I have some different vessels here on the table. I have a thimble, a shot glass, a 40 oz water bottle, a 5 gallon bucket.

Now, I fill everyone of them to the brim with lemonade.

The vessels themselves contain more or less lemonade than the vessel sitting next to it, yet, all of them are full to the brim.

Some hearts have a greater capacity, yet in heaven all will be full to the brim.
 
AltarSoldier said:
But I am still finding it difficult to grasp how some in heaven can be “more happy” than others
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No one in Heaven is “happier” than anyone else. Or to put it another way, each person in Heaven becomes just as holy and happy as God meant them to be, and they’re fine with that.

You can’t understand how things work in Heaven because it is not accessible to your human mind. Stop trying to put it into human terms and just focus on getting yourself to Heaven and not on whether you’re going to be as happy as Pope JPII when and if you get there.

God will always hear your prayers for other souls even if you yourself are in a state of mortal sin. Although hopefully a side benefit of you praying for the other souls is that you will draw closer to God yourself and in so doing get and keep yourself out of a state of mortal sin.
 
AltarSoldier said:
Matthew 16:27,
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For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels,
and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

I see no problem… And there shall be no problem for any who wind up in Heaven.

_
 
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