Istota i cechy niebiańskiego szczęścia w nauczaniu Grzegorza Wielkiego

Abstract

The main purpose of the article is to look at the doctrine of Gregory the Great and explore his teaching on the essence and characteristics of the celestial felicity. According to the teaching of Gregory the Great, the essence of celestial felicity consists of two elements: the vision of God and the joyful fruition which flows from the vision. The vision of God identifies with the possession of God and unity with Him through the beatific love. The celestial felicity first of all is characterized by feature of perfection because of the clarity of the celestial vision. The celestial felicity is spiritual, i. e., the felicity concerns only spirituality of the human in contrast to the teaching of the followers of the chiliasm. The celestial felicity is eternal, because the human soul in heaven participates in the eternity of God. The celestial felicity is true, because in the state of the felicity the human perfectly communes with God who is Truth (John 14:6). The celestial beatitude is beautiful, because in heaven the human participates in God clothed with majesty (Ps 92:1).