|
Objection 1: It would seem that the damned are not in material
darkness. For commenting on Job 10:22, "But everlasting
horror dwelleth," Gregory says (Moral. ix): "Although that
fire will give no light for comfort, yet, that it may torment the more
it does give light for a purpose, for by the light of its flame the
wicked will see their followers whom they have drawn thither from the
world." Therefore the darkness there is not material.
Objection 2: Further, the damned see their own punishment, for
this increases their punishment. But nothing is seen without light.
Therefore there is no material darkness there.
Objection 3: Further, there the damned will have the power of sight
after being reunited to their bodies. But this power would be useless
to them unless they see something. Therefore, since nothing is seen
unless it be in the light, it would seem that they are not in absolute
darkness.
On the contrary, It is written (Mt. 22:13): "Bind his
hands and his feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness."
Commenting on these words Gregory says (Moral. ix): If this fire
gave any light, "he would by no means be described as cast into
exterior darkness."
Further, Basil says (Hom. i in Ps. 28:7, "The voice of
the Lord divideth the flame of fire") that "by God's might the
brightness of the fire will be separated from its power of burning, so
that its brightness will conduce to the joy of the blessed, and the
heat of the flame to the torment of the damned." Therefore the damned
will be in material darkness.
Other points relating to the punishment of the damned have been decided
above (Question 86).
I answer that, The disposition of hell will be such as to be adapted
to the utmost unhappiness of the damned. Wherefore accordingly both
light and darkness are there, in so far as they are most conducive to
the unhappiness of the damned. Now seeing is in itself pleasant for,
as stated in Metaph. i, "the sense of sight is most esteemed,
because thereby many things are known."
Yet it happens accidentally that seeing is painful, when we see things
that are hurtful to us, or displeasing to our will. Consequently in
hell the place must be so disposed for seeing as regards light and
darkness, that nothing be seen clearly, and that only such things be
dimly seen as are able to bring anguish to the heart. Wherefore,
simply speaking, the place is dark. Yet by Divine disposition,
there is a certain amount of light, as much as suffices for seeing
those things which are capable of tormenting the soul. The natural
situation of the place is enough for this, since in the centre of the
earth, where hell is said to be, fire cannot be otherwise than thick
and cloudy, and reeky as it were.
Some hold that this darkness is caused by the massing together of the
bodies of the damned, which will so fill the place of hell with their
numbers, that no air will remain, so that there will be no translucid
body that can be the subject of light and darkness, except the eyes of
the damned, which will be darkened utterly.
This suffices for the Replies to the Objections.
|
|