St. Robert Bellarmine reflects on the kingdom of God in heaven in these meditations. --Book cover.

Originally published in Latin in 1616, this is one of five devotional writings of Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), the Italian Jesuit and important Counter-Reformation figure. This book will clarify some of the reasons Bellarmine was also highly esteemed as a spiritual director and why all five of his books enjoyed long-lasting popularity. Bellarmine draws widely on Scripture, especially from St. Paul, and easily and aptly quotes from the Fathers of the Church, especially St. Augustine. On the Eternal Happiness of the Saints reveals Bellarmine's sympathetic understanding of human nature and his eloquent descriptions of heaven-where, to use one of his own images, "We shall enter into a great sea of divine and eternal joy, which will fill us within and without, and surrounds us on all sides."

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Excerpt from The Eternal Happiness of the Saints: Translated From the Latin of the Ven; Cardinal Bellarmine Last year, for my own spiritual benefit especially, I composed a "Gradual to ascend unto God from the Contemplation of created objects." Now, since it hath pleased God to prolong my old age a little longer, I wish to meditate on that heavenly country to which all the sons of Adam ardently aspire, who dwell, lamenting and weeping, in this valley of death; and these meditations I desire to write, lest they perish. Wherefore in the Holy Scriptures, which may be compared to "Consoling Letters" sent unto us in this our exile from heaven by our Father, I find four names mentioned, from which we may in a manner learn what are the good things of that land. The names are, - Paradise, Mansion, City, and a Kingdom. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Eternal Happiness of the Saints: Translated From the Latin of the Ven. Cardinal Bellarmine Kingdom; then under that of a City afterwards under that of a House and, lastly, under the word Paradise' -meditate in the chamber of my heart; and, with God's assistance, commit to writing what 'he shall please to suggest unto me. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.