|
Objection 1: It would seem that in hell the damned are tormented by
the sole punishment of fire; because Mt. 25:41, where their
condemnation is declared, mention is made of fire only, in the words:
"Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire."
Objection 2: Further, even as the punishment of purgatory is due to
venial sin, so is the punishment of hell due to mortal sin. Now no
other punishment but that of fire is stated to be in purgatory, as
appears from the words of 1 Cor. 3:13: "The fire shall try
every man's work, of what sort it is." Therefore neither in hell
will there be a punishment other than of fire.
Objection 3: Further, variety of punishment affords a respite, as
when one passes from heat to cold. But we can admit no respite in the
damned. Therefore there will not be various punishments, but that of
fire alone.
On the contrary, It is written (Ps. 10:7): "Fire and
brimstone and storms of winds shall be the portion of their cup."
Further, it is written (Job 24:19): "Let him pass from the
snow waters to excessive heat."
I answer that, According to Basil (Homilia vi in Hexaemeron and
Hom. i in Ps. 38), at the final cleansing of the world, there
will be a separation of the elements, whatever is pure and noble
remaining above for the glory of the blessed, and whatever is ignoble
and sordid being cast down for the punishment of the damned: so that
just as every creature will be to the blessed a matter of joy, so will
all the elements conduce to the torture of the damned, according to
Wis. 5:21, "the whole world will fight with Him against the
unwise." This is also becoming to Divine justice, that whereas they
departed from one by sin, and placed their end in material things which
are many and various, so should they be tormented in many ways and from
many sources.
Reply to Objection 2: It is because fire is most painful, through
its abundance of active force, that the name of fire is given to any
torment if it be intense.
Reply to Objection 2: The punishment of purgatory is not intended
chiefly to torment but to cleanse: wherefore it should be inflicted by
fire alone which is above all possessed of cleansing power. But the
punishment of the damned is not directed to their cleansing.
Consequently the comparison fails.
Reply to Objection 3: The damned will pass from the most intense
heat to the most intense cold without this giving them any respite:
because they will suffer from external agencies, not by the
transmutation of their body from its original natural disposition, and
the contrary passion affording a respite by restoring an equable or
moderate temperature, as happens now, but by a spiritual action, in
the same way as sensible objects act on the senses being perceived by
impressing the organ with their forms according to their spiritual and
not their material being.
|
|