Antonio Borda (via email)

How many obstacles must be cleared away to answer such a brief question!… The mere mention of the word hell raises a thousand objections, sentiments and psychological barriers in people’s minds: “Hell… Does it really exist?”

Or: “Jesus does speak of an eternal hell (cf. Mt 25:41; Mk 9:43–48); but do people actually go there?” And the most common question: “How can such a good God create a punishment so cruel and… eternal?”

Our great advantage in answering this question is the fact that the Holy Catholic Church was not born yesterday. Adorned with a youthfulness spanning two thousand years, she is highly experienced; the issues raised today have, for the most part, already been considered in the past, answered by great Doctors of the Church, and defined by the Church’s Magisterium.

The Catechism summarizes this topic as follows:

“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’”(CCC 1035).

Crystal clear!

Yes, hell exists! It is eternal and not empty: at the very least, a vast number of demons are there (cf. 2 Pt 2:4)…

Upon reading such a statement, modern man – accustomed to viewing everything through the prism of challenge and rebellion – immediately objects: “I cannot believe God would do such a thing!” As if we were more merciful than the Heavenly Father Himself!

In the past, humanity accepted the doctrine that evil persons go to hell; nowadays, if there is a hell, it is because the one who is truly evil – deep down – is God… What an inversion of values!

It is worth noting that “There are no limits to God’s mercy, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept His mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss” (CCC 1864).

Yes, going to hell is our own fault… not God’s!

Furthermore, the Catechism goes on to explain:

“Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s Kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back” (CCC 1861).

The problem is that today everything tends to be disposable, and modern man wants to put an expiration date even on eternal damnation…

But, ultimately, can there be repentant people in hell?

The only repentance that would be capable of delivering someone from hell is one arising from a contrite acknowledgment of having offended God, accompanied by a resolve to change one’s life and an openness, full of trust, to divine mercy.

Now, such a thing does not exist in hell! There may be a resentful, rebellious, and hardened remorse, but without any desire for forgiveness.

The Catechism adopts the words of St. John Damascene: “There is no repentance for the angels after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after death” (CCC 393).

Do you know why, Antonio? Because hell and Heaven, in a way, already begin here on earth. Those habitually offend God during their lives become so hardened in evil that they spurn forgiveness – both here and even after death, were it to be offered to them. It is the “mystery of iniquity” (2 Thes 2:7).

May Most Holy Mary, the Gate of Heaven, obtain for us the grace to live a holy life, always maintaining the state of grace in our souls and asking for forgiveness whenever we need it!