Q. 1379. {413} What is Hell?
A. Hell is a state to which the wicked are condemned, and in which they
are deprived of the sight of God for all eternity, and are in dreadful
torments.
Q. 1380. Will the damned suffer in both mind and body?
A. The damned will suffer in both mind and body, because both mind and
body had a share in their sins. The mind suffers the "pain of loss" in
which it is tortured by the thought of having lost God forever, and the
body suffers the "pain of sense" by which it is tortured in all its
members and senses.
Q. 1381. {414} What is Purgatory?
A. Purgatory is the state in which those suffer for a time who die
guilty of venial sins, or without having satisfied for the punishment
due to their sins.
Q. 1382. Why is this state called Purgatory?
A. This state is called Purgatory because in it the souls are purged or
purified from all their stains; and it is not, therefore, a permanent or
lasting state for the soul.
Q. 1383. Are the souls in Purgatory sure of their salvation?
A. The souls in Purgatory are sure of their salvation, and they will
enter heaven as soon as they are completely purified and made worthy to
enjoy that presence of God which is called the Beatific Vision.
Q. 1384. Do we know what souls are in Purgatory, and how long they have
to remain there?
A. We do not know what souls are in Purgatory nor how long they have to
remain there; hence we continue to pray for all persons who have died
apparently in the true faith and free from mortal sin.
Pages:
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293