HH 416 - The Immensity of Heaven and Little Children

HH 416

The immensity of the heaven of the Lord
is confirmed also by this,
that all little children,
whether born within the Church or out of it,
are adopted by the Lord and become angels;
and the number of these
amounts to a fourth or fifth part
of the whole human race on the earth.
. . . every little child, wherever born,
whether within the Church or out of it,
whether of pious or impious parents,
is received by the Lord when they die,
and is brought up in heaven,
and is taught and imbued with affections for good,
and through these with cognitions of truth,
in accordance with Divine order,
and as he becomes perfected
in intelligence and wisdom
is brought into heaven and becomes an angel.
From all this a conclusion may be formed
of the multitude of angels of heaven,
derived from this source alone,
from the first creation to the present time.