Catechesis corner was recently asked a in our question box: In our life on the “other” side will we have memories of life/friends/family and our earthly life?
The short answer is we don’t know. In 1 Corinthians 2:9 is says “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor the heart of man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” We know heaven is a place of perfect relationship with God where we will have our place in the communion of saints. It is the wedding feast with the spouse of our soul (Jesus Christ). The Catechism of the Catholic Church says “This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity - this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed - is called "heaven." Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.”
It is important to remember that we as Catholics believe in the communion of saints. The Church is one body with Christ as head. Those in heaven… or in the Communion of saints. We ask for the saints’ intercession since they are closer to Christ and the saints wanting to help and intercede for us take our petitions to God. We are one body and those in heaven care, love, and intercede for us on earth. The catechism states, “The intercession of the saints.” Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness.... They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped.”
Will we have memories of our loved ones in heaven? We don’t know but we know that we are part of one mystical body and those in heaven love us and each other and pray for us to join them in heaven one day!
All saint and angels in heaven, pray for us!