Heaven

[Guest magnificat17]

I was recently having a discussion with a family member about heaven. They were arguing that in heaven we'll all be the same in relation to one another, that we wouldn't have any special recognition of family members or other important people in our lives here on earth. For some reason, I have always thought that we would have a special relationship with loved ones, or at least recognize them. Does the Church have anything to say about this, or perhaps even the saints?

[Thy Geekdom Come]

From what I've seen, the usual stance of the Church is that the relationships you have on earth (with those who also get to heaven) will be made stronger, although you will also be in a relationship with everyone else you never knew. This is because we as Catholics believe that we are made perfect and come to share in the divine life, so it makes sense that our relationships would also become perfect. Married people would no longer be married, but they would be giving themselves to each other in a much deeper way than sex (which of course will not be had in heaven). The dissolution of the marital union, far from bringing them farther apart, allows them to become even more united, because they will be worshipping God in heaven together, unified completely in Him.