Luke 16:19–31: Was the rich man in hell or purgatory?

[Abba]

This…

There is no compassion in hell

But according to the revelations of Saint Catherine of Sienna, as quoted above by chesster, the reason the rich man asked is because his pain and suffering would increase as he would have responsibility on the loss of the souls of his brothers.

Why I tried to express above is that the knowledge that pain is better or worst for souls in purgatory would need to have been revealed. Although it could be argued that in the same way souls will be compensated according to their fruits in heaven, it would follow that souls suffer according to their evil deeds etc… but this is not self evident. I think it would need to be revealed as it was to Saint Catherine of Sienna. It’s not obvious that this would be the case as it could be the case that they all suffer the same horrible experience which may be ultimate.

That souls suffer different degrees of pain in hell is not in the bible.

 

[concretecamper]

But according to the revelations of Saint Catherine of Sienna, as quoted above by chesster, the reason the rich man asked is because his pain and suffering would increase as he would have responsibility on the loss of the souls of his brothers.

Why I tried to express above is that the knowledge that pain is better or worst for souls in purgatory would need to have been revealed. Although it could be argued that in the same way souls will be compensated according to their fruits in heaven, it would follow that souls suffer according to their evil deeds etc… but this is not self evident. I think it would need to be revealed as it was to Saint Catherine of Sienna. It’s not obvious that this would be the case as it could be the case that they all suffer the same horrible experience which may be ultimate.

That souls suffer different degrees of pain in hell is not in the bible.

Since the Church has never defined where the Rich man is I guess it is debatable . I have read good arguments on both sides. But if I was forced to choose, I would choose purgatory.

 

[Abba]

Since the Church has never defined where the Rich man is I guess it is debatable . I have read good arguments on both sides. But if I was forced to choose, I would choose purgatory.

I would too, except now for that quote of Saint Catherine of Sienna. Now, I will have to think about it. The Church has not declared anyone in particular to be in hell, not even Judas which some saints,( e.g. Saint Augustine) were convinced he was in hell because he gave in to despair - but, we do not know if he repented at the last minute nor what his state of mind was at the moment of his death. Those were deductions (of Saint Augustine et al) which is different from what Saint Catherine of Sienna states - which is that God Himself told her the rich man and his brothers were in hell and that souls suffer in different degrees in accordance to what they have done and the souls they lead to hell.

Hence, the the rich was not feeling compassion for his brothers, presumably, but instead was concerned that his pain would increase if they went to hell as he would be in part responsible.

But, he could have been in purgatory or a temporary hell holding place (?) at the time and then when Jesus resurrected he went to hell. I just don’t know if souls in hell can communicate with souls out of hell and the rich man communicated.