Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 14th Sunday of Ordinary time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The twelfth article of the Apostle’s Creed is “I believe in everlasting life.” There are ten (10) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 1056.
Hell is a place and state of sorrows. As unpleasant as it is, the lake or pool of fire is not the primary punishment of Hell (cf. Revelation 20:14). Separation from God and His Saints forever is the primary punishment of Hell.
Hell is lamentable because we have been made and redeemed for Heaven. Any who sadly die in unrepented sin(s) only suffer the eternal torments due to our own lack of repentance and conversion and sorrow in the here and now. Because of our lack of lamentation here and now for the sins we commit, there is an eternal lamentation which awaits.
Hell is a reality, no less certain than the reality of Heaven. Both are truths of faith. We should long for Heaven, cooperating with God’s grace and do all that we can to avoid the sorrow and sadness and punishments of Hell. Hell is no less an essential part of our faith in life everlasting than is Heaven. Hell is where we should NOT want to go. We should act accordingly.
Another name for Hell is “eternal death.” This is especially so because for us Christ is our life (cf. John 17:3; 20:31; Romans 6:23; Colossians 3:4; 2 Timothy 1:1). While the Lord keeps in existence those who have been damned to Hell, having died unrepentant in mortal (deadly) sin, they die no more. Their lives are an eternal separation from Him who is the Lord and giver of life.
Jesus Christ often preached about Hell during His ministry on this Earth. Sins of impatience or anger and sins of hateful speech and name-calling, if unrepented, lead to the fires of Hell (cf. Matthew 5:22). For the Lord Jesus, it is better for us to be physically maimed in this life rather than to spend all eternity in Hell and it’s fires (cf. Matthew 5:29–30; 18:9; Mark 9:43–47). Jesus warns us to fear the destruction of body and soul and being cast into Hell (cf. Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5). Jesus includes “exterior darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” when describing Hell (cf. Matthew 8:12). Jesus calls not only individuals (you and I) but whole cities (Capharnaum, Sodom, Knoxville…) to repentance lest Hell and damnation be our lot (cf. Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15). Repentance in the here and now is important because once one has been sentenced to the punishments, pains, and torments of Hell there is no getting out (cf. Matthew 23:33; Luke 16:19–31).
Hell is a part of the teaching of the Church. That the fallen angels suffer the consequences of their sins ought to remind us that we too will suffer eternal consequences for our unrepented sins (cf. 2 Peter 2:4).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr