Assuming, of course, that we make it to Heaven and also that, our loved ones might be first on the list – so just who else would we most like to meet?
The question used to be asked of us boys in the RE class of Sister Paul OP.
The good sister, herself, had a burning desire to meet with Hereward the Wake (“after St Paul
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| "I'm as surprised as you are Lord, but shall I let him in?" |
But it remains an interesting question. Who would it be? St Thomas More ranks high in my shortlist which also includes St Cuthbert Mayne, St Edmund Campion, St Catherine of Siena, St Maximilian Kolbe and, of course, our own Bl Titus Brandsma. But we are not restricted to canonised saints; so my list could extend to include Fr Donald Proudman OP., J.R.R. Tolkien, GKC and Hilaire Belloc, Archbishop Fulton Sheen oh, and Keith who borrowed £5 off me in 1971….it would be good to meet up with him again!
But…I almost forgot. I just have to include my Guardian Angel on my list. My guess is that he/she will be found in Heaven’s version of Intensive Care – much needed after looking after me!
This is a nice idea and makes us think.
ReplyDeleteI have such a long list of saints I don't know who to pick first, so I'll leave them aside for this. There are also some parishioners from years gone by but they will not be known to anyone reading this, so I'll leave them to one side for now.
So, my list would include the following, John Wayne (who converted on his death-bed) The directors, John Ford and Frank Capra. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope ("The Road to Heaven"?)
and the composers, Bruckner, Chopin (who repented on his death-bed)and Elgar (who struggled at the last) Rembrandt, C. S. Lewis and all the priests and religious who helped me in life. I'm sure God also has a few surprises in store!
Of course Chesterton, Belloc, C.S. Lewis, and E.V. Rieu
ReplyDeleteDr Samuel Johnson, a writer (a man too) whom it is impossible not to love;
Tennyson, a devout and melancholy agnostic; It is hard to read "In Memoriam" without tears;
Rudyard Kipling, often falsely accused of racism, but in "Kim", full of respect and love for other peoples and religions;
John Brown - a warrior who fought the good fight for slaves;
Bonnie Prince Charlie, who might have won if he had not turned back at Derby,
His grandfather, King Jan Sobieski III who saved Europe from Islam in 1683 at the battle of Vienna;
Cervantes and Don John of Austria;
Saint Joan of Arc, of course.
You've named quite a few I'd like to meet. I'd also like to meet John Paul II, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Thomas Aquinas, Dorothy Day, Mozart, Oscar Wilde (who converted on his deathbed) and William Shakespeare, von Balthazar and Mortimer Adler.
ReplyDeleteJesus, face to face. Actually, it did occur to me once, during a really rough patch that whether we go to heaven or hell, we will see His face one day, either as saviour or judge and I drew some pleasure in thinking that at least I would get to glimpse Him once, whatever my soul's outcome. I then imagined I would focus on His face, forever, wherever but that's probably all a bit daft sounding?
ReplyDeleteI'll meet up with the rest of the crowd after.
St Mungo; St Anthony the Great; St Benedict; St Photini; St Panteleimon; St Seraphim of Sarov
ReplyDeleteAll - most impressive lists.
ReplyDeleteFr John, a little bit glitzy? :)
I think almost every right-thinking Catholic would have GKC and Belloc on their list. JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Fr McNabb, Bl Newman, ... also St Ignatius Loyola, St Maximillian Kolbe, St Francis Xavier, St margaret Clitherow, St Teilo, St Illtyd, St david, St John Lloyd, St Phillip Evans, St Richard Gwyn, St Winifred, St patrick, Padre Pio and of course... Our Lady and Our Lord
ReplyDeleteI also would love to meet Catholics from the early Church and pre-Reformation Wales [and England] to truly understand what life and the Church/society was like in those times.
Personally i would love to meet some of the "normal" priests from my youth, just to thank them, talk about Faith, history etc.with them.
I think it would also be great to speak to some of the people who we all assumed would not be there (like me, I hope -- to be there) because their fortitude in getting through purgatory and their life-story and repentance would be very interessting.
If Tony Blair does get there I would like to meet him just to ask "what were you thinking?"
I dont know a lot about Heaven -- does it work like that? or is it more like being constantly transmogrified by the Beatific Vision?
It seems a bit weird to think of 'chit chat' with fellow faithful, but then I guess we do that after Mass...
St. John Marie Vianney
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