The Church talks of Hell in the Athanasian Creed: "They that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire" In all reason, can you honestly presuppose that ALL men have escaped Hell? If virtue is rewarded in the next life, cannot the rational man see that evil will be punished? Unless we deny evil (and in this day, who can?), we must acknowledge both Hell and the damned in Hell and fear and pray for our own and others' souls.
Good points all. That a soul can be eternally damned is not in dispute. It is possible that a person can go to Hell. In fact, it is very possible.
But I haven't presupposed anything. I just don't know. I don't know who is in Hell. I know some of the people who certainly are not in Hell. The Church has not revealed than any particular person is in Hell. And the Holy Catholic Church permits us to pray that all souls will be saved.
That I may legitimately pray for a thing does not mean that I will receive precisely for that which I pray. I've prayed for physical healing where the result was death. I've prayed to be able to avoid problems and difficulties in life, where the only way past them was through them. We may legitimately pray for the things that nonetheless will not turn out as we wish.
"Unless we deny evil (and in this day, who can?), we must acknowledge both Hell and the damned in Hell and fear and pray for our own and others' souls."
I don't deny evil, I take it very seriously. I tremble for my own soul (which is one reason I like the prayer cited above so much). I acknowledge that Hell exists. But it was not created for men. Men can go to Hell, but there is no necessity there.
I also acknowledge that there are demons in Hell. I also acknowledge that it is possible that there are human souls in Hell.
But I hope and pray that there are no human souls in Hell, and that ultimately, there will be no human souls in Hell.
Please distinguish, my friend, between these three things:
- What my reason tells me is likely (there are likely at least some souls in Hell);
- What I hope for (that my reason has come to the wrong conclusion, and that Hell is ultimately empty of human souls);
- And what I pray for (that Jesus will lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of His mercy [like me]).
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