Different "degrees" of suffering in hell?

[Pieman333272]

Is it possible, according to Catholic doctrine, that there are multiple degrees of suffering in hell, worse ones for worse sins and less works/faith? Or is there only one state of hell but vastly different degrees of purgatory?

 

[elvisman]

Is it possible, according to Catholic doctrine, that there are multiple degrees of suffering in hell, worse ones for worse sins and less works/faith? Or is there only one state of hell but vastly different degrees of purgatory?

Since hell, quite literally is devoid of God’s presence, grace and goodness, I don’t see how there could be varying degrees. No God would indicate the deepest darkness and suffering one could imagine.

**We don’t really know how long the state of Purgatory lasts. There could be varying degrees depending on the temporal suffering due. Then again - it may be instantaneous for all.

 

[Nita]

Is it possible, according to Catholic doctrine, that there are multiple degrees of suffering in hell, worse ones for worse sins and less works/faith? …

Yes, there is Church teaching that there are differing degrees of punishment in hell. The Councils of Lyons and of Florence say:
The souls of those who die in mortal sin or with original sin only, however, immediately descend to hell, yet to be punished with different punishments.
(The statement can be interpreted to refer just to a difference in punishment between the unbaptized and the punishment for dying in mortal sin. But, the “different punishments” may also be understood to apply within the category of those who “die in mortal sin”.)

St. Augustine said: “In their wretchedness the lot of some of the damned will be more tolerable than that of others” (Enchir. III).

In Mt. 11:22-24 Jesus tells the inhabitants of Corazain and Bethsaida:
*" But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Caper’na-um, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you." *

And in Luke 20:47 Jesus says:
*who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." *

{My source for the above info was “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma”.)

 

[thistle]

Yes, there is Church teaching that there are differing degrees of punishment in hell. The Councils of Lyons and of Florence say:
The souls of those who die in mortal sin or with original sin only, however, immediately descend to hell, yet to be punished with different punishments.
(The statement can be interpreted to refer just to a difference in punishment between the unbaptized and the punishment for dying in mortal sin. But, the “different punishments” may also be understood to apply within the category of those who “die in mortal sin”.)

St. Augustine said: “In their wretchedness the lot of some of the damned will be more tolerable than that of others” (Enchir. III).

In Mt. 11:22-24 Jesus tells the inhabitants of Corazain and Bethsaida:
*" But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Caper’na-um, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you." *

And in Luke 20:47 Jesus says:
*who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." *

{My source for the above info was “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma”.)

That’s right. However, as the Church teaches that the main punishment of Hell (which all in Hell suffer) is eternal separation from God it really doesn’t matter much if there are other punishments there.

 

[paul_c]

That’s right. However, as the Church teaches that the main punishment of Hell (which all in Hell suffer) is eternal separation from God it really doesn’t matter much if there are other punishments there.

So lets play out the corrolary. Are there different rewards in heaven, or is the beatific presence pure joy for all that are there?

 

[Nita]

So lets play out the corrolary. Are there different rewards in heaven, or is the beatific presence pure joy for all that are there?

Yes. From the Council of Florence (1439 AD):
…And that the souls of those, who after the reception of baptism have incurred no stain of sin at all, and also those, who after the contraction of stain of sin whether in their bodies, or when released from the same bodies, as we have said before, are purged, are immediately received into heaven, and see clearly the one and triune God Himself, just as He is, yet according to the diversity of merits, one more perfectly than another. Moreover, the souls of those who depart in actual mortal sin or in original sin only, descend immediately into hell but to undergo punishments of different kinds.

CCC #1021:
… but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works annd faith. …

Some Scripture:
Mt. 16:27 “He will render to every one according to his works”
1 Cor 3:8 * “And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.”*
2 Cor 9:6: * “He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he that soweth in blessings shall also reap blessings”*

 

[Monica4316]

I was taught that all souls in hell suffer the loss of God, but they also have ‘individual’ torments as well, based on their sins. So the person who sinned with pride would have one type of suffering, the one who sinned with lust would have another, etc. If a person has many different sins, it seems yes their suffering would be even worse. But hell is absolutely horrible in any case, because their primary and greatest suffering is loss of God and remorse of conscience without being able to repent or to be sorry for what they have done. They know what they have done, but they also know they chose to be unrepentant and to reject God, and are now fixed in this position forever if a person turns to God even in their last moments and repents, they can be saved. But if they reject Him until the end, they this is their eternal disposition towards Him. That’s why it’s such a good idea to always strive for repentance for sin

God bless.