Sin: when the highest good is rejected

When the highest good is rejected

Giorgio La Pira jokingly told reporters (some of them had made him bad press): «It is difficult for one of you to go to Heaven without a long stop in Purgatory. In Hell no. Hell is there, I am sure, but I believe it is empty of men ». La Pira's optimism was also of the cardinal-elect Hans Urs von Balthasar, who died a few days before receiving the purpura. On this opinion I am of the opinion of those who think differently. The theologian Antonio Rudoni, specialized in eschatological questions, qualifies that opinion as "anti-pedagogical, theologically unfounded and even risky". Another authoritative theologian, Bernhard Hàring, writes: «It does not seem to me that such hope [that Hell is empty], or even such a conviction, is right and possible, given the clear words of Sacred Scripture. The Lord has admonished men many times, reminding them that they can lose eternal salvation and fall into endless punishment ».

Taking a realistic look at the current world, alongside so much good, evil seems to prevail. Sin, in many forms, is no longer recognized as such: rejection and rebellion towards God, selfish self-interest, anti-decalogue customs considered as normal, ordinary things. Moral unrest gets the patronage of civil law. The crime claims right.

In Fatima - a name also known in the non-Christian world - the Blessed Virgin brought a message suitable for men of this century, which, in a nutshell, is a pressing invitation to think about the ultimate realities, so that men can be saved, converted, pray , do not sin anymore. In the third of those apparitions, the Mother of the Savior produced the vision of Hell before the eyes of the three visionaries. Then he added: "You have seen Hell, where the souls of sinners go."

In the apparition that took place on Sunday 19 August 1917, the Appearance added: "Mind that many souls go to Hell because there is no one to sacrifice and pray for them".

Jesus and the apostles clearly affirmed damnation for sinful men.

Anyone wishing to trace biblical texts of the New Testament on the existence, eternity and punishment of Hell, see these quotes: Matthew 3,12:5,22; 8,12; 10,28:13,50; 18,8; 22,13; 23,33; 25,30.41; 9,43; 47; Mark 3,17-13,28; Luke 16,2325:2; 1,8; 9; 6,21 Thessalonians 23: 6,8-3,19; Romans 10,27-2; Galatians 2,4; Philippians 8; Hebrews 6:7; 14,10Peter 18,7-19,20; Jude 20,10.14-21,8; Revelation 17; 1979; XNUMX; XNUMX; XNUMX. Among the documents of the ecclesiastical magisterium I mention only a short section of a Letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (May XNUMX, XNUMX): «The Church believes that a punishment awaits the sinner forever, who will be deprived of the vision of God, as he believes in the repercussion of this punishment in his whole being. "

The word of God admits no doubts and needs no confirmation. History could say something to unbelievers, when it presents certain extraordinary facts that cannot be denied or explained as strange natural phenomena.