Save Us From the Fires of Hell V

More Meditations on Hell

(Source: Inferno: La Divina Commedia In The Middle Ages Volume I, pp.326-327)

Inferno
"O Simon Magus! O disciples of his!

Miserable pimps and hucksters,

that have sold

The things of God,

troth-plight to the righteousness,

Into adultery for silver and gold;

For you the trump must sound now - you are come

To the bag: the third bowge (pit) has you in its hold..."

Think what it must be like for a lost soul to enter into eternal torment, eternal fire, suffering that will never, never end. The end of all hope.

We know that there really is fire in hell, "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew xxv: 41) The damned will burn eternally and with what intensity we cannot imagine - this is beyond human capacity to comprehend. Listen to this short excerpt from a book I recommend to all, it certainly changed my life and the way I look at everything:

"Now imagine that thou wert sentenced to be burned alive for thy sins and for the whole of the live long day thou didst stand amidst the flames, unable to die. How piteously thou wouldst weep and wail how loudly wouldst thou shriek and roar in thy agony....Now consider, O Christian, if the action of earthly fire causes such intolerable agony, what will be the torture of hellfire, the heat of which is incombarably more intense and more searching than that of any fire wherewith we are familiar....this fire is kindled by the breath of God. For the prophet Isaiah says: 'Behold, the wrath of the Lord burneth and is heavy to bear, His lips are filled with indignation, and His tongue as a devouring fire. His breath as a torrent overflowing even to the midst of the neck, to destroy the nations unto nothing.' "(The Four Last Things by TAN Books)

And also: "Hell is prepared from yesterday, deep and wide. The nourishment thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord as a torrent of brimstone kindling it." (Isaiah xxx 30, 33)

Let us not deceive ourselves, nor be deceived by others who would have us think hell is something to which a soul becomes accustomed. "It can't be that bad...." Oh but it is...it is. Let us this Lent renew our faith, pray fervently for the help of the Mother of Sorrows, pray for the suffering souls in purgatory through her intercession. Think of Mary standing at the foot of the cross, shedding tears as her Divine Son dies in agony for your sins. Pray for all sinners, including yourself - that we can avoid the fires of hell.

Prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen+