Fathers of the Church

"Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God" (Mt 5:8). What a wonderful promise God has made to those who seek Him sincerely in this life! But what precisely does this mean? This work examines the specific nature of the relationship between the requirement for seeing God (purity of heart) and the ultimate reward (the Beatific Vision) demonstrating that St. Augustine's understanding of who Christ is for each and everyone of us requires a change of heart on our part that is true, habitual, lasting and sanctifying. To understand Augustine's thought requires a close reading and analysis of the many passages from several of his writings in which he discusses the relationship between purity of heart and the vision of God. ..