"Any place that's too high-falootin' for Rip is too fancy for me."
Posted on 05/18/2011 2:31:49 PM PDT by Salvation
Pets in Heaven? A question that comes up frequently is whether people will see their pets in heaven. Now the Catechism of the Catholic Church does not directly address this question. But it does hold principles which lead us in the direction of an answer. One principle is that all living things have a soul. Here soul is defined as what makes an organic body live. Now when any living thing dies, its soul is separated from its body. In the case of plants and animals the soul goes out of existence. But in the case of man, the soul remains in existence because it is a spiritual or immaterial thing. Consequently, it differs from the souls of animals in two important respects. First, it is the seat of intelligence or reason. For this reason a man is held responsible for his actions in a way that animals are not. Secondly, the soul is immortal. A thing which has no physical parts cannot fall apart or be poisoned or be crushed or be put out of existence. For this reason the souls of the saved will always be aware of themselves as enjoying the vision of God for all eternity. This enjoyment will be the result of having chosen to act on earth in such a way that one did the will of God rather than one's own will. And the souls of the damned will be aware of themselves as never attaining this vision of God because they have shown by their lives on earth that they did not wish this vision but instead preferred their own will. In the light of this essential difference between human beings and animals, it would seem that we would not see the souls of our pets in heaven for the simple reason that they do not have immortal souls and are not responsible for their actions. They do not have the intelligence which allows them to choose either God's will or their own will. There is, then, an incomparable distance, say, between the soul of the sorriest human being who ever lived and the most noble brute animal that ever walked the earth. Now a child might be heartbroken at the thought that he will never see his pet again. He cannot yet understand this explanation about the difference between the human and the animal soul. I suppose that one could tell the child that when he hopefully gets to heaven, he could ask God to see his old pets if he still wished to. There would be no harm in that. For we know that when a person finally sees God, he will not be concerned with seeing old pets or favorite places but rather will be captured in the complete fulfillment of the joy of which old pets and favorite places are but little signs. We adults know that, even if the child does not. For more information on how the Church sees animals in the lives of human beings, check the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2415-2418. You will learn, for example, that the Church, while it condemns cruelty to animals as an offense against the dignity of man, allow experiments on animals if done in a reasonable way. Again, you will learn of the tremendous difference that the Church sees between the lowliest of human beings and the most noble of the animals. It will allow animals to be used for food or clothing, but will defend the right of an innocent human being to live against Kings and Nations. The Church will demand that animals be respected as part of creation while at the same time insisting that the dignity owed a human being should never be given to an animal.
Answered by Dr. Richard Geraghty, PhD
"Any place that's too high-falootin' for Rip is too fancy for me."
One person’s pet is another person’s delicacy.
I suspect Heaven will have no muslims but all the Dogs.
I’ve always loved the story of a man who dies and finds himself walking along a long road, with his old faithful dog trotting along by his side.
He reaches a set of magnificent gates, but when they open for him and he tries to walk through the fellow tending the gate tells him he can go in, but his dog can’t.
The man tells the gatekeeper that he’ll keep on walking, and he continues on with his dog by his side.
He then comes to a second set of gates, this set wooden and more rustic, which also open for him. He asks the gatekeeper whether he can take his dog in with him. Gatekeeper says “Sure! You both are welcome here.”
The man asks the gatekeeper “where am I?” The reply is “Heaven”.
The man is confused, asks “If this is Heaven, then what were those other set of gates back up the road?”
“Oh, that’s Hell. They do a really good job of screening out folks who would cross through while leaving their best friends outside. Now you and your buddy there go right on through.”
Cats.
AMEN to that!
My thoughts on heaven and hell are this: The deepest darkest depression that a person can experience is what will be experienced in hell. The difference with depression on earth and in hell is that hell is for all eternity without any periods of relief. It is a total feeling of hopelessness and despair. Whereas heaven is just the opposite. Think of the most joyful, ecstatic moment of your life, and that will be heaven. The difference with earth and heaven is that this joyous feeling of ecstacy never goes away. We will have no worries or fears. It is a constant. Also in heaven we will have the Lord with us. As far as our pets, if we are experiencing this joy without our pets, then we will not be missing them.
This was in one of Rod Serling’s short story collections (I think):
Man kills his wife but then feels guilty.
At a seance she speaks to him, says she’s in heaven, tells him she forgives him and that she looks forward to seeing him again. She then pleads for him to bring her dog with him when he comes. He kills the dog and commits suicide. In the final scene the dog comes running up to her all excited. He says “I’m glad I can be with you again forever here in heaven.” She says, “Oh wait, you’re a murderer, remember? You go to the other place.”
Wish I could think of which episode you have in mind
I was thinking of that cartoon of St Peter welcoming Snoopy
I`ve had many dogs in my life...they live such a short while
Its always hurt to loose one
God has infinite love. Would he not love all that he created?
Have trouble explaning this to children? I have a harder time explaining this to adults who can’t bear the thought that little Fluffy or Fido won’t be there with them in the hereafter.
Our Lord promises that the joy of fellowship with Him will be so great that we won’t CARE that our old pets aren’t around with us. And yet some would rather choose their pets - just like in a hurricane.
I love my pet but I’m fully aware that the bond is not a permanent one. Whether the pet understands that, I don’t know but I’m not all that concerned with it.
See post #42. Episode called “The Hunt”
What about Netflix in Heaven?
Yikes. God has infinite love. Would He not love all that He created? Distracted by one of my dogs. :)
Who knows? :)
There is a thing called “Rainbow Bridge” for animals.
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Rev 4:6 And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:7 And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever
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