Diamond polishing

“A DIAMOND, carefully cut and perfectly polished, sparkles and shines in the sun with exceeding brilliancy. It not only reflects the light, but also absorbs it into itself, so as to shine even in the dark with the light it has absorbed. It actually becomes, as it were, a little sun, shining with its own light. It is thus become a partaker of the sun’s nature, while it retains its own peculiar diamond nature and individuality. This is an image of what takes place in the Beatific Vision. While the soul was in this world, God had polished her by the sacraments and by sufferings; and now that she is in His presence, and sees Him as He is, she shines and sparkles in His light with unspeakable splendor. She reflects and absorbs the divine light and beauty of God. She is like God, because she sees Him as He is; she is made a partaker of the divine nature, while she retains her own human nature and personal identity.

“…. But remember, too, that God, who created you without your cooperation, will not save you without it. He will never polish your soul into a jewel fit for Heaven in spite of yourself. You must, therefore, cooperate with Him, and do His holy will in all things. However painful may be the trials He sends you, they are all so many strokes to take away some roughness or deformity which would prevent your soul from being perfectly like Him.”

— The Happiness of Heaven, Fr. J. Boudreau, S.J. (Tan Books, 1984)

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