# Is Love the Key to Heaven?
*2020-06-10*

> Bill Young reflects on what it means to be saved, sharing personal stories of prayer, the example of Mother Teresa, and how love for others reveals the reality of heaven.

## Why Love Matters

Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. That love is the most tangible sign of heaven on earth. When we truly love others, we experience a foretaste of the heavenly kingdom.

## Examples of Holy Lives

Mother Teresa of Calcutta is a clear example of someone who earned a place in heaven by giving her whole life to the poorest. My own aunt, Sister Mary Teresa, a Catholic nun for over sixty years, also devoted herself entirely to Christ. After praying the Rosary for her intercession, I felt an overwhelming, immersive love that confirmed to me she was already in heaven.

## How We Can Follow Their Path

We are not called to become saints overnight, but we must combine belief with action. The sacraments—Eucharist, Confession, and the grace of Divine Mercy—help us grow in love. Even in a year when we could not receive Holy Communion physically, a spiritual communion and sincere contrition still bring us close to God.

Living out love means caring for the poor, washing each other’s feet, and seeing every person as a child of God, regardless of race or status. It also means striving to bring others to Christ, not just focusing on our own salvation.

## Practical Steps and Resources

I recommend the books of Fr. Michael Gaitley, especially “33 Days of Merciful Love” and “33 Days to the Greater Glory of God.” Daily prayers such as the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and regular Rosary recitation keep our hearts aligned with Christ’s love.

If you’re looking for a community, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia offers nightly Rosaries in English (8 p.m.) and Spanish (6 p.m.), followed by the Litany of the Sacred Heart.

## A Final Prayer

Lord, we rejoice in the gifts of love that flow from the Heart of Jesus. Open our hearts to share this love with all, that we may know heaven here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*Love is the true sign of heaven; when we love others as Christ loves us, we catch a glimpse of eternity.*