Is hell a literal place or state of being?

[jackydarapper]

As mentioned in the subject. Is hell a literal place or state of being? Through many revelations (Our Lady of Fatima showed hell to 3 seers, St John Bosco had vison of hell, Sister Josefa Menendez had visited hell physically and many more) I know that it’s a literal place beyond just a state of being. But I know some religious and lay men (member(s) of prayer group) say that its a state of being separated from God. I know that ultimate punishment of hell is separation from God due to the rejection on earth. But how to explain this to them?

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Mother Teresa of Kolkata

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Any private revelation of heaven or hell one receives here on earth is an accommodation due to the limitations we live with in our present situation. The children of Fatima received a vision of hell that looked physical and was very frightening. But souls that are in hell now, have no bodies. It cannot be a physical experience until the resurrection of the dead. It is also outside of time—which is something that we can’t even imagine.

After the resurrection of the dead, hell can be a physical place as well as the state of being separated from God. Heaven on the other hand, does have some individuals with glorified bodies even now.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.