"Saint Augustine tells us that is not the case with nations. No nation will exist in heaven or hell. Nations are moral beings, and moral beings do not go beyond the limits of time. So, when a nation sins grievously, its punishment comes on this earth. If a nation does an act of virtue, it will receive its reward on this earth. Joseph De Maistre gave a beautiful exposition on this issue in which he shows, for example, the earthly happiness of missionary nations. He shows that great missionary nations while remaining true to their missionary spirit, are the great dominating nations on earth. How true this is of the Spanish and Portuguese nations from which we come!" From here!