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Show Catholic Belief Regarding Hell. Recently Rev. Dr. Clampett of San Francisco, a Protestant clergyman, denied the existence of a material hell. Discussing the matter in the Bee of that, city, Mgr. Capel writes : "To the Editor of the Bee Sir: From the 'Our Churches,' which Dr. Clampett asserts no longer teach a 'material hell, is to be excluded the Catholic, Cath-olic, church. From Devivier's 'Christian Anolo-getics,' Anolo-getics,' later translated, edited, augmented and adapted to English readers, the following extract may be of value to your readers. Be it remembered this work is approved by six Cardinals and thirty-five thirty-five Archbishops and Bishops. In the space of a few years the original French work has run through sixteen editions. The well known Father Jos. Sasia, S. J., of Santa Clara, is the editor. " 'The points or jyticles or belief, as having been divinely revealed, and which consequently no Catholic is at liberty either to deny or even to , doubt: " 'First Hell exists, created by God's justice, to punish the rebel angels and the impenitent human creatures. (Matt, xxv, 41.) " 'Second Hell is a place of torments comprising com-prising the pain of Sense and that of Loss (Luke xvi, 2o-24). The pain of Loss is indicated in our Savior's words: "Depart from me," and consists in the deprivation of the vision of God. ' The pain j of Sense comprehends all the other sufferings affecting af-fecting tlie soul of the reprobate while separated from the body, and the body also after the general resurrection. "'Third The penalty of hell is incurred by all who die in the state of grievous personal or actual sin. "'Fourth The torments of the damned are eternal. (Matt, xxv, 40; Mark, ix, 42-47.) "'The fourth Lateran Ecumenical council (A. D. 1215) contains this decree: "All shall receive according to their works, whether good or evil; the wicked eternal punishment with the devil; the just everlasting glory with Christ; " 'There is the dogma. Whatever else may be said by writers or preachers about the site of thi. place of punishment, or about, the quality of its pains is not of faith, and belongs to those points, on which it is lawful to hold different opinion without with-out wandering from Catholic belief.' "I may add, St. Augustine writes ('De Civit Dei, 1. 20. c. 10) : 'What kind of fire it is I consider no man knows, unless, perchance, one to whom the Divine Spirit has disclosed it.' However, the com-" moii and general opinion of theologians' and of the faithful is that the fire is true and real, on which there exists, indeed, no definition of the Church. Faithfully yours, "(Mgr.) T. J. CAPEL. "Arno, Oct. 7, 1003." |
