What does it mean 'To Spend Heaven'

[EricaS]

Hi,

I’m currently in RCIA and I’m having a really hard time answering a question and I think its because I don’t understand the turn of phrase. When I asked about it this week the person who responded gave a personal example about how someone helped them out when they were homeless but I don’t think that fully answers my question. The question I’ve been given is:

Saint Therese of Lisieux once said: “I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth”.
Who do you believe is spending his or her heaven helping you here on earth?

So from that my question is, what does it mean to spend heaven on earth? Does it simply mean to do good deed here on earth/help people out? As a side note I may just be overthinking this but I would like some (name removed by moderator)ut from you guys if I can get it.

Thanks.

 

[edward_george1]

The word “spend” has multiple connotations. It can mean to expend–as we use it when we speak of spending our money or feeling spent after a long day. It can also mean to pass the time. The original French text of that quotation from St. Therese has the verb “passer” in that place, rendered here as “spend.” So she wants to “pass the time,” so to speak, in heaven, doing good upon the earth. I say this, of course, without intending to get into questions of whether we would experience time in heaven, either normally or at all.

But yes, I’d say you’re overthinking it. She just means when she’s in heaven, she wants to be devoted to doing good upon the earth, or to pass the time doing good upon the earth, or something along those lines.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[Lee1]

And by all accounts she has been too! Many people have been assisted by her intercession over the years.
Another much loved and admired Saint especially due to the simplicity of her message and example whilst on earth.

 

[EricaS]

Thank you for your response Fr ACEGC. If I could ask for a simple clarification of this part:

She just means when she’s in heaven, she wants to be devoted to doing good upon the earth, or to pass the time doing good upon the earth, or something along those lines.

So when the question asks “Who do you believe is spending his or her heaven helping you here on earth” it means someone who I believe is in heaven helping me, not someone who is alive and doing good deeds for people. Correct? If so that would clear a lot of this up. I’ve mostly been confused about how someone can experience heaven on earth I know doing good deeds is a good thing and brings about more good but I don’t think I would call that heaven.

Thanks again!

 

[edward_george1]

The saints in heaven help us by their prayers and intercession. It’s a way of asking which saint do you think it is who intercedes for you. I think it’s a bit of an odd question, as unless we have a devotion to a saint already, we don’t really have any way of knowing who in heaven is interceding for us.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[EricaS]

Okay thank you! That completely answers my question!

 

[Mary888]

think it’s a bit of an odd question, as unless we have a devotion to a saint already, we don’t really have any way of knowing who in heaven is interceding for us.

But when one prays to a certain saint, just once or not as periodical as a devotion, and they receive help in the direction they wanted, can we not presume that it was the actual Saint who helped?