Catholicism - Now I Get It!
Study Guide to CHAPTER 10:
HOW CAN YOU GET IT?
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What are some images the Bible associates with Hell?
Is it possible to get out of Hell?
What are some of the sins deserving of Hell, according to the Bible?
What is the worst pain or loss for those in Hell?
What change will the souls in Hell experience on Judgment Day (i.e., the Last Day, when Jesus comes again)?
Where in the New Testament are exorcisms described?
During the TV coverage of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, did you see the image in black smoke that seemed to be a detailed picture of the Satan's face? Did you see how the image remained even with a constant stream of black smoke? Do you think the devil was trying to claim a victory?
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Suggestions for further reading:The Dogma of Hell by Fr. F.X. Schouppe
What Will Hell be Like? (booklet by St. Alphonsus Liguori)
A Spiritual Combat and a Treatise on Peace of Soul by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
Hell Quizzes by Frs. Rumble and Carty
Angels and Devils by Joan Carroll Cruz
Evidence of Satan in the Modern World by Leon Cristian
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Helpful entries from the online Catholic Encyclopedia.
Hell www.newadvent.org/cathen/07207a.htm
Devil www.newadvent.org/cathen/04764a.htm
St Michael the Archangel www.newadvent.org/cathen/10275b.htm
Demons www.newadvent.org/cathen/04710a.htm
Demonic Possession www.newadvent.org/cathen/12315a.htm
Exorcism www.newadvent.org/cathen/05709a.htm
Limbo www.newadvent.org/cathen/09256a.htm
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HELPFUL WEB SITES
www.catholic.com/library/last_things.asp (Last Things)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell (Wikipedia on Hell)
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Isaiah 66: 24 "And they shall go forth and look on the dead bodies of the men that have rebelled against me; for their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
Rev. 20:9-10 . . . but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Mt 3:11-12 . . . gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Mark 9:42-47 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Luke 16:22-26 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz'arus in his bosom. And he called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz'arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am But Abraham said, `Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz'arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'
2 Thess 1:7-9 when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Mt 25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
Rev 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death."
Jude 1:7-8 just as Sodom and Gomor'rah and the surrounding cities, which likewise acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Yet in like manner these men in their dreamings defile the flesh, reject authority, and revile the glorious ones
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image
More Scripture at www.scripturecatholic.com/hell.html
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WHAT DID THE CHURCH FATHERS SAY ABOUT HELL?
St. Justin Martyr: "We have been taught that only they may aim at immortality who have lived a holy and virtuous life near to God. We believe that they who live wickedly and do not repent will be punished in everlasting fire" (First Apology 21 [151 A.D.]).
St. Ignatius of Antioch: "Corrupters of families will not inherit
the kingdom of God. And if they who do these things according to the flesh
suffer death, how much more if a man corrupt by evil teaching the faith of God
for the sake of which Jesus Christ
.More Church Fathers at www.catholic.com/library/Hell_There_Is.asp
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WHAT DOES THE CATECHISM SAY ABOUT HELL?
1033 We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: "He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."612 Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren.613 To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell."
1034 Jesus often speaks of "Gehenna" of "the unquenchable fire" reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost.614 Jesus solemnly proclaims that he "will send his angels, and they will gather . . . all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire,"615 and that he will pronounce the condemnation: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire!"616
1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, "eternal fire."617 The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.
1036 The affirmations of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church on the subject of hell are a call to the responsibility incumbent upon man to make use of his freedom in view of his eternal destiny. They are at the same time an urgent call to conversion: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few."618
1037 God predestines no one to go to hell;620 for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance":621
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Further Helps
Jesus made a special promise St. Faustina Kowalska concerning the salvation of a dying person. The promise entails praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the presence of that dying person. Here is what Jesus said: "When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just judge but as the Merciful Savior."
Here is the Divine Mercy Chaplet: www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm All you need is a rosary and the prayers on the web site.
Jesus also said to St. Faustina: "Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...."
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