Is there a 'caste' system in heaven?

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Nanotwerp

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Is there some type of ‘ranking’ from regular humans, to Mary, and to God, or are we all equal (other than God, of course)?
 
I’ve researched this.

Yes scripture and private revelation tell us there is ranking in Heaven.

Jesus in revelation:
“I come to reward each ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE.”
There will be specific rewards for each of us for good deeds or sufferings endured for love of God.

For those who do not enter Heaven;
“Even what they have will be taken away and given to the man with the ten talents.” (St Louis de Monforts interpretation of Jesus parable).

God is the highest.
St Louis de Monfort and many other saints agree Our Lady is the next highest in Heaven, as sinless Mother of God.
St Michael is the next highest after Our Lady due to his heroic involvement during the fall of the angels, heis mentioned in revelation as the angel charged with casting satan to hell, the prayer to st michael calls him the 'prince of the heavenly host,"

The choirs of angels are ranked also according to st thomas aquinas, in scripture we are told that it is the 7 archangels who are in the immediate presence of God, as well as the Seraphim who hide their faces with their wings and cry out “holy holy holy.”

St Paul in the bible even says he knew a man who was caught up to the 3rd of Heaven.
Heaven has many levels drawing closer and closer to God. The highest part of Heaven must be incredible.

Even pope gregory in the 3rd century collected stories of near death experiences -one of which was of a man who saw a house being built in one of the lower parts of Heaven for a soul who would get to heaven.
Is there some type of ‘ranking’ from regular humans, to Mary, and to God, or are we all equal (other than God, of course)?
 
I think it is quite misleading to say there is a caste system in Heaven.

Each person is holy in Heaven, but each person varies in their degree of Holiness.

Theology speaks of differing degrees of Glory regarding the saints, but that does not equate to “caste”.

I thought of those verses regarding degrees of glory and then also this one came to mind:

***In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

RSV

*** In my Father’ s house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you: because I go to prepare a place for you. ***

Douay-Rheims
 
Is there some type of ‘ranking’ from regular humans, to Mary, and to God, or are we all equal (other than God, of course)?
In heaven we will be just as perfect as our merits will allow. That means that some will be more perfect than others. The Blessed Virgin and Jesus are elevated above all by their perfection and holiness. And of course Jesus is absolutley perfect by nature since he is God. But that is not a " cast " system as one would find in India and other places on earth. There is no discrimination in heaven. I am not debating, I simply state an opinion.

Linus2nd
 
I hope not, and moreover, I don’t care.
I just want to be there. I don’t care if I’m the littlest soul by the back door.
I want to be there.
 
Hi,
I felt there had to be and appreciate others’ research. Can you imagine, if Charles Mansion really said he was sorry at time of death and was forgiven and admitted. He would really bring down the real estate. Sorry, guys, just having fun. But, really, I have friends who are living saints and deserve large mansions near God and Charlie doesn’t need to be there. I will be kind and rejoice in the homecoming of the prodigal son but I felt that there should be different size mansions and different streets. I’ll be w Charlie because I think this but, oh well.
trying to be good by God’s grace.
In Christs love
tweedlealice:shrug:
 
Hi Nanotwerp,

Yes, there are different levels for us in Heaven. St. Faustina writes about this very topic in her Diary of Divine Mercy, too, as Our Lord explains this to her.
 
St.Therese of Lisieux described how her sister explained differing degrees of bliss in heaven by putting an egg-cup and a tumbler in front of her. She then filled each up with water, and showed Therese how each was full even though the amount of water was very different.
 
I have heard or read an analogy that tries to address this question. it goes like this.

every human soul is like containers of a different size. in heaven, every container is full to the rim, but mary is like a huge, huge container and others of us are smaller in size; but, just like mary we share the glory of God to the maximum amount possible for our size.
 
St therese of avila wrote about individual merit in heaven

She said she’d rather suffer until the end of time to receive just one millimetre of more merit for heaven (to be even closer to Jesus for all eternity).

We can only grow and achieve merit on earth

At death we have a permanent reward for us individually. We can only increase or decrease that heavenly merit while on earth.

I read of a story of Jesus telling a person, “I am still preparing your place in Heaven and will continue to do so until you die.”
 
Does that mean some souls will have less “access” to Jesus in Heaven? I mean, will they still enjoy his presence but not be able to be around Him?

I’m reading St. Faustina’s diary now. I haven’t gotten to that part yet!
 
While the writings of the Saints are good, and inspired, they are not necessarily the be-all end all authority.
When we get to heaven we won’t care who sits where. That sounds a lot like the mother of James and John who wanted seats close to Jesus for her sons.

**Living in eternal bliss and communion with God should be enough fro any of us. **
 
Imagine each of us are like cups, size depending on how much we loved God.

Some are thimble sized (like me) others are 55 gallon drum sized, others bigger.

In heaven, we will be filled to the brim. With God’s grace, God’s love, God’s beatific vision…

In a way, we are all equal (filled to the brim) - but not in an equal amount.
 
Didn’t the mother of James and John ask the same type of question?
I really don’t think that there is going to be problem of jealousy over who has the most glory.
 
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