A reader writes:<\/p>\n
I was wondering if you could help me. \u00a0I\u2019ve seen a number of testimonials by those who have had\u00a0near\u00a0death experiences<\/a>\u00a0as well as\u00a0some of the\u00a0visions of the Saints<\/a>\u00a0as well as\u00a0writings of the fathers<\/a>\u00a0that describe the torture at the hands of the demons in hell.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
None of which, of course, are binding on the consciences of the faithful as something we have to believe are actual descriptions of hell. \u00a0The very good reason for this is that those who go to hell (assuming there are any) do not return.\u00a0 We believe in hell for one reason: because Jesus\u2013who oughtta know\u2013warns of it.\u00a0 Saints are free to speculate about it.\u00a0 Those who experience NDEs may have experienced something terrible as a stern act of grace.\u00a0 But those who go to hell do not get back out to give reports on it.\u00a0 Once you make that final choice, you don\u2019t unmake it.\u00a0 The gates of hell are barred from within. \u00a0Hell is not something extrinsic to our sin. \u00a0It is our sin in fruition.<\/p>\n
I know that God is perfectly loving and just, but I can\u2019t wrap my mind around the justice of allowing such terrible torments in hell. \u00a0For example, it surely cannot be just to torment a soul for eternity because he deliberately missed mass on Sunday to go to a football game, and yet the Catechism states that this is a grave sin.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I think perhaps part of the problem is that we Americans tend to approach the life of discipleship in terms of rules instead of in terms of relationship, to conceive of sin not in light of virtue, but in light of observing regulations.\u00a0 Consider the guy who got married and was full of sighs and passion for the beauty of his mistress\u2019 eyebrow.\u00a0 He\u00a0 used to dote on her as she still loves him.\u00a0 But over time, his eye has wandered.\u00a0 Now he works late under dodgy circumstances with his hot secretary in whom he has much more interest.\u00a0 He might miss his anniversary, and when his wife confronts him about it, he might well say, \u201cLook, what\u2019s the big deal?\u00a0 I forgot\u201d. \u00a0But the\u00a0point is not really about keeping a rule about a calendar date.\u00a0 It\u2019s about what he is no longer investing in the relationship.<\/p>\n
I think something similar obtains with the regulation about Sunday Mass.\u00a0 The Church is expressing, in the language of juridical rules, something that goes much deeper.\u00a0 It\u2019s pretty much how institutions have<\/em>\u00a0to talk when addressing a large anonymous crowd of people.\u00a0 They can\u2019t say, \u201cO my people!\u00a0 Would that you loved God!\u00a0 We wouldn\u2019t even have to talk about Minimum Daily Adult Requirements for Mass attendance because you would want to go every day without somebody laying out a rule for you.\u00a0 But since you insist on framing the discussion like a husband asking \u201cHow often do I have to kiss my wife?\u201d then here is your answer:\u00a0 at least go to Mass on Sundays.\u00a0 The idea is, in fact one of compromise and concession to our cold and sluggish hearts when the actual desire of God is that we love him with our heart, soul, mind and strength.<\/p>\n
Seen in that light the contrast between the ardor of God and the torpor of man makes comprehensible why neglect of the Sunday obligation is not about punishment for not keeping rules but is\u2013like missing anniversaries and constantly staying late at the office with the secretary\u2013an indicator that a relationship that is supposed to be rooted in love is very likely in real trouble.\u00a0 It\u2019s not about getting docked brownie points for missing appointments.\u00a0 It\u2019s about pointing to the fact that we need to do an attitude check and repent, lest we lose that relationship, perhaps eternally.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m starting to think, therefore, along the lines of some Christians that purgatory and hell are only different in the willingness for one to let go of his attachment to sin for Christ\u2019s sake. \u00a0Is that a defensible position?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Works for me.\u00a0 There are, as C.S. Lewis says, only two possible outcomes to our lives.\u00a0 Either we say and fundamentally mean<\/em>\u00a0\u201cThy will be done\u201d to God or God, in the end, says \u201cThy will be done\u201d to us.\u00a0 The latter is what we call \u201chell\u201d.<\/p>\n
PS. I hope you don\u2019t think this is a silly question. \u00a0I\u2019ve been debating whether I should write for a while now, and finally screwed up the courage.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Not silly at all<\/em>.\u00a0 It is a deeply morally serious thing to wrestle with.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A reader writes: I was wondering if you could help me. \u00a0I\u2019ve seen a number of testimonials by those who have had\u00a0near\u00a0death experiences\u00a0as well as\u00a0some of the\u00a0visions of the Saints\u00a0as well as\u00a0writings of the fathers\u00a0that describe the torture at the hands of the demons in hell. None of which, of course, are binding on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[8,650],"class_list":["post-91511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-mailbag","tag-na"],"yoast_head":"\n
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