Did the Fatima Children Really See Hell?
Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC on Catholic Exchange, September 13, 2019
https://catholicexchange.com/did-the-fatima-children-really-see-hell
But in the case of a vision of Hell, it seems that there could be no object seen by one’s physical eyes. This is not because Hell is not real, but because it is not simply a material place that exists alongside the world as we know it.
Hell is not only real, but also, while it is not only a physical place (probably 6000 + km below our feet, around centre of Earth), it is a physical place.
Like Heaven. (Arguably a light day up or more. Above the fix stars.)
Why? Because risen bodies will be there. In Heaven, at least two already are there, Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin. In Hell, those who rise to shame and not glory will be there.
So, the place is there to be seen. So are most probably the flames : while they torture spiritual beings right now, fallen angels and damned souls, not only will they be tormenting for eternity the risen bodies of the damned, but God humbles the haughty demons by submitting what is spiritual to pains that originate in bodily things like fire and would normally affect only bodily things, and same is true for damned souls.
So, the place and the flames are there to be seen.
But what about the demons tormenting and the damned souls tormented? Pure spirits? Probably yes, though some Eastern theologians have begged to differ, some of whom are schismatics by now, but the point is, both angels and demons*, both saints from Heaven** and ghosts from Hell*** or Purgatory° can be given an appearance so they can be seen and heard by bodily eyes. This means, the one problematic thing is most easily solved by saying the tormenting demons and the tormented souls were allowed to appear.
In mystical theology, there are two possible solutions. [...] A second solution is that God permits a physical manifestation of Hell, one that the subject can observe with his bodily eyes.
The solution is already there in dogmatic theology and the permitting of a physical manifestation of what is normally not physical (in the case of damned souls awaiting resurrection : not physical yet) is correct, but not for Hell as place or for flames, but only for those residing in the flames.
However, normally this would be hidden by thousands of kilometers of rock between our feet and top storeys in Hell. Nevertheless, both angels and demons°° have the capacity to transmit images in a way that has inspired the invention of TV. God can obviously add timetravel to the transmission, as I believe He did for Daniel and on Patmos for St. John. Therefore, the transmission of imagery is also no problem.
So, the question is, how does someone purported to be a Catholic priest come to such extremes as to say "it seems that there could be no object seen by one’s physical eyes?" If it is a reflex of "videtur quod" in Thomistic articles of questions in the Summa, one would need to take into account this convention is very little understood these days, so little indeed that St. Thomas in some circles is accused of being an Atheist, due to writing "It seems that God does not exist;" - and also, unlike St. Thomas, you did not correct the false statement a few lines later on.
On the contrary, It is said in the person of God: "I am Who am." (Exodus 3:14)
Quoted from (with previous) I, Q2, A3
http://newadvent.com/summa/1002.htm#article3
I did not see any "on the contrary, Hell actually is a place" in your essay. Nor, "the risen bodies of the damned will be there". Could it be you were not studying under Pope Michael in his seminar in Topeka, or something?
Hans Georg Lundahl
Cergy
St. Philip of Alexandria°°°
13.IX.2019
* St. Raphael and Asmodaeus. ** St. James walking in the snow, while his statue was restored to the Church it was stolen from. *** Marley in a Christmas carol would be a fictional example. He was not seeking release for himself, only to warn Scrooge not to go down. ° The Ghost of Canterville would be a fictional example : his unrest could be resolved if a virgin prayed for him. °° See Matthew 4 and Luke 4. °°° Alexandriae natalis beati Philippi, patris sanctae Eugeniae Virginis. Hic, dignitatem Praefecturae Aegypti deserens, Baptismatis gratiam assecutus est; quem, in oratione constitutum, jussit Terentius Praefectus, ejus successor, gladio jugulari.
No comments:
Post a Comment