A Journey Using a Medieval “Map of Hell”

Aletelial ^ | March 20, 2016 | Matthew Becklo

[NYer]

The “religious sense” has hit Nat Geo overnight – and the Catholic Church has found itself on center stage.

First came a dramatized documentary about Pope Francis and a new series from Morgan Freeman about the “the story of God” (which affirmed the co-existence of faith and science in Catholicism and displayed a kind of “spiritual bond” with Rome).

Now, Catholicism is at the center of a very different sort of travelogue, a two-hour special called “Map of Hell.” Donning a silver cross, action anti-hero Danny Trejo (Machete) kicks this special off with some “bad news”: “Someday, we’re all gonna die.” But then what?

“What if I died today?” Trejo growls, standing over his own dead body. “Could I be going to hell?” The actor then becomes a kind of cross-cultural, heavy metal Virgil, dragging us through the depths of hell as it’s been described over thousands of years.

First up is the shadowy Greek underworld of Hades and its evolution in Socrates, Plato, and Virgil. The takeaway here seems to be that, whatever else hell is, it’s in the highest contemplation of art and philosophy that the map begins to take shape.

That trajectory continues into the early Christian and medieval periods. There’s a 12th–century Irish text about one man’s vision of the afterlife; a 14th–century chapel painting with a “menu of horrors” so graphic that some of the content is blurred out for television; and Michelangelo’s 16th-century masterpiece The Last Judgment, in which Trejo identifies with the anguished face of the “damned man.” “We see one soul right after judgment,” he says, “the face of the damned, looking out at us, as if to say: ‘I am you and you are me.’ And that’s the thing. Sure, I’ve made a few mistakes in my life. But it’s not only guys like me that go to hell. It can be anyone. Sin is everywhere.”

The show’s art direction is excellent, but it’s with Dante’s Divine Comedy that things really heat up. “For Dante, surrendering to sin means choosing the self over the route to God,” Trejo says as an unsettling montage of stacked cash, bared flesh, and brutish violence unfolds. “Take it from me, it can happen to the best of us.” One by one, we meet Dante’s sinners, doomed to live out “the nature of their sin” in the nine circles of hell, which descend from “crimes of passion” to “crimes of malice.” At the bottom of the inferno are those who have strayed furthest from God, lodged forever in a lake of ice.

What seems to interest Trejo most, though, is Dante’s “escape route” of purgatory, where sinners scale a menacing rock face in droves to reach heaven. Trejo even visits the skull-covered Fontanelle cemetery in Naples, where a woman prays to Mary to intercede for these suffering souls.

The last section begins with the Reformation and its sudden rupture with “Catholic ideas” like purgatory. What follows are two distinctively modern visions of hell. On the one hand, there’s a fire-and-brimstone pessimism chastising “sinners in the hands of an angry God.” On the other, there’s a psychologizing that reduces hell to the horror genre, a quirk of evolutionary survival.

But both of these visions fall flat after our journey through the Inferno. Dante’s depiction is not only more vivid – it’s also more human. For T. S. Eliot, the earthy Purgatorio was not just a religious text; it was also one of the best lenses through which to understand the journey of life itself.

And where theology is concerned, Trejo only scratches the surface.

What is hell? The Catechism defines it as an eternal “state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed,” and its chief punishment as “eternal separation from God.” Beyond that, there is a wide range of both literal and figurative views about fire, torture, etc., most of which fall comfortably within the ambit of the Church’s teaching.

And who ends up there? “In Catholicism,” Trejo says, “only really evil dudes like Hitler or Ted Bundy go straight to hell. The rest of us head for purgatory.” But this isn’t accurate. Many Catholic thinkers, e.g., Augustine and Aquinas, have argued that, in light of the great sin of Adam, the majority of humanity is doomed. Others, e.g., St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Hans Urs von Balthasar, have argued that, in light of the great love of the new Adam, we can reasonably hope that “all souls” be saved (“especially those in most need” of that mercy, as one of the Fatima prayers puts it). This debate rages on to this day, but has never been settled dogmatically. The Church remains suspended somewhere between doom and hope – and rightly so.

To most viewers, the middle portion of “Map of Hell” is probably the most entertaining, but also probably feels a bit too medieval to take seriously. But with these points in mind, Trejo’s show can afford us another kind of “escape route” out of the two dead-end views of hell on the market today, and back toward a more poetic – and more humble – topography.

 

[NYer]

Sister Faustina's Vision of Hell

"I, Sister Faustina Kowalska, by the order of God, have visited the Abysses of Hell so that I might tell souls about it and testify to its existence...the devils were full of hatred for me, but they had to obey me at the command of God, What I have written is but a pale shadow of the things I saw. But I noticed one thing: That most of the souls there are those who disbelieved that there is a hell." (Diary 741)

The Apostle of Divine Mercy St. Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy

"Today, I was led by an angel to the Chasms of Hell. It is a place of great torture; how awesomely large and extensive it is! The kinds of tortures I saw: The First Torture that constitutes hell is:      The loss of God. The Second is:      Perpetual remorse of conscience. The Third is      That one's condition will never change. The Fourth is:      The fire that will penetrate the soul without destroying it. A terrible suffering since it is a purely spiritual fire, lit by God's anger. The Fifth Torture is:      Continual darkness and a terrible suffocating smell, and despite the darkness, the devils and the souls of the damned see each other and all the evil, both of others and their own. The Sixth Torture is: The constant company of Satan. The Seventh Torture is: Horrible despair, hatred of God, vile words, curses and blasphemies.

These are the Tortures suffered by all the damned together, but that is not the end of the sufferings. Indescribable Sufferings There are special Tortures destined for particular souls. These are the torments of the senses. Each soul undergoes terrible and indescribable sufferings related to the manner in which it has sinned. I would have died There are caverns and pits of torture where one form of agony differs from another. I would have died at the very sight of these tortures if the omnipotence of God had not supported me. No One Can Say There is No Hell Let the sinner know that he will be tortured throughout all eternity, in those senses which he made use of to sin. I am writing this at the command of God, so that no soul may find an excuse by saying there is no hell, or that nobody has ever been there, and so no one can say what it is like...how terribly souls suffer there! Consequently, I pray even more fervently for the conversion of sinners. I incessantly plead God's mercy upon them. O My Jesus, I would rather be in agony until the end of the world, amidst the greatest sufferings, than offend you by the least sin." (Diary 741)

[NYer]

Catholic ping!

[Organic Panic]

[Yogafist]

LOL!

[metmom]

And who ends up there? “In Catholicism,” Trejo says, “only really evil dudes like Hitler or Ted Bundy go straight to hell. The rest of us head for purgatory.” But this isn’t accurate. Many Catholic thinkers, e.g., Augustine and Aquinas, have argued that, in light of the great sin of Adam, the majority of humanity is doomed.

Great Catholic thinkers agree with what is considered non-Catholic thought these days.

Jesus taught that there was a hell, there is eternal torment,fire, worms etc. Either /or. Heaven or hell. He NEVER once taught about purgatory or any other way of coming to the Father but through HIM.

The biggest disservice is to teach that there is a purgatory or that something besides the death of Christ is a way to heaven.

[GreyFriar]

As a Protestant, the Catholic catechism definition is plain enough and acceptable to me: What is hell? .... “eternal separation from God.”

[SaraJohnson]

Trejo is a big fat racist.

[notaliberal]

You just can’t help yourself, can you!

[trisham]

LOL!

[BipolarBob]

You just can’t help yourself, can you!

She does good works. Rebuke her not.

[Pontiac]

As one who has been there; Saying that Detroit is hell on Earth is an exaggeration.

But not a great one.

;)

[daniel1212]

As a Protestant, the Catholic catechism definition is plain enough and acceptable to me: What is hell? .... “eternal separation from God.”

That hardly Scripturally suffices:

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:12)

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42)

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (Luke 16:23-24)

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:47-48)

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:11)

38	In God's Presence, there is fulness of joy and pleasures forever more; But for those who reject Him, only Everlasting Punishment, so sore!	Ps.16:11; Rev.21,22; 2Thes.2:8,-10; Rev14:11
39	On the Great Day of GOD's Judgment, when every motive and deed is exposed by CHRIST's pure eyes, You'll see how you choose to pacify your conscience, with the devils practiced lies!	Mt.25; Rv.20:10-15; Ps.11:4; Prov.15:3; Heb. 4:12; Rm. 1:18; 2:1-16; 1Tim.4:1,2; Col.2:18; Jn.8:44; 2Thes.2:1-10
40	And as the saints in Glory rejoice, in GOD's heavenly embrace, you'll mourn & weep in torment, for spurning your Day of Grace!	Rev.21, 22; Prov.1:20ff; 2Co.6:2
41	So to all who read this, who are yet separated from CHRIST thru sin, We plead, "FORSAKE THE FOOLISH AND LIVE," BY TRULY RECEIVING HIM!	Is..59:1,2; Prov.6:5; Jn.5:24; - ►CREATION to CONSUMATION – POEM Thanks be to God.

[notaliberal]

She does good works. Rebuke her not.

Depends on if your Catholic or not! I'll put you in the "not" position!

[MuttTheHoople]

And who ends up there? “In Catholicism,” Trejo says, “only really evil dudes like Hitler or Ted Bundy go straight to hell.

According to Scripture, if Hitler and Bundy repented of their sins before dying, they could be in Heaven right now- Isaiah 1:18-"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

I've heard Ted Bundy accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. Unless he was lying, we'll see him in heaven.

https://yehudafm.wordpress.com/tag/ted-bundy-becomes-christian/

[Mrs. Don-o]

The author mentions in passing that St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein, d. 1942 in Auschwitz) believed that all might be saved. I have never read that before. I know that she prayed ardently and wished to offer her life "for all God gave to me: that none of them shall go astray."

To pray for their salvation seems to imply that condemnation was possible. In other words, one does not pray and sacrifice ardently, for something which is already a sure thing.

This makes think she was not a universalist (which goes against Scripture and Catholic doctrine) but rather a person of deep, wide, and realistic hope.

Your thoughts?

[Gamecock]

It’s really no different than the Mormon scheme.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"And who ends up there? “In Catholicism,” Trejo says, “only really evil dudes like Hitler or Ted Bundy go straight to hell. "

Just so that readers not be led astray by omission, let me supply the rest of that passage:

And who ends up there? "In Catholicism," Trejo says, "only really evil dudes like Hitler or Ted Bundy go straight to hell. The rest of us head for purgatory." But this isn’t accurate. Many Catholic thinkers, e.g., Augustine and Aquinas, have argued that, in light of the great sin of Adam, the majority of humanity is doomed. Others, e.g., St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Hans Urs von Balthasar, have argued that, in light of the great love of the new Adam, we can reasonably hope that "all souls" be saved ("especially those in most need" of that mercy, as one of the Fatima prayers puts it). This debate rages on to this day, but has never been settled dogmatically. The Church remains suspended somewhere between doom and hope – and rightly so.

[Biggirl]

....And that is just the downtown of that legendary city.

Have seen pictures of sections that would make you think it is a war zone

[Salvation]

Great post.

[GreyFriar]

No, it is NOT in your detailed quoting of multiple scripture, but it is “the bottom line” i.e. eternal separation from God.