Meeting evil in heaven?

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TomKat27

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I have a simple question which I can’t find the answer to anywhere… any help as to how the catholic church would answer this would be very helpful 🙂

My question is: If you enter heaven and have the desire to talk to / meet (whatever) with another deceased who hasn’t entered heaven (i.e. they are in purgatory or in hell - heaven forbid), would it be possible? I mean can someone in hell converse with someone in heaven because the one in heaven wishes it? Since in heaven, anything is possible, would this make sense?

I hope I made the question clear enough 🙂

God bless :gopray:
 
Well, you’re probably not going to want to talk to anyone not in heaven. You will be in ecstasy in the beatific vision of God. Have you ever been in the middle of something that you completely, totally enjoyed, and your mom called you to supper? Didn’t you want to holler back, “Can you wait a few minutes, Mom? I’m doing something ‘important’ here!”? How much more so will that be in heaven, when we are face to face with God and in ecstasy? We won’t want to take time to do anything else but worship and glorify God and thank Him.
 
Jesus explained this situation when He spoke about the rich man and Lazarus.

Luke 16:19

usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke16.htm

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’

Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.

**Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ **

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’

But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’

He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’"
 
The OP reminded me of the end of the book, “The Godfather,” by Puzzo. (Spoiler alert: I am about to tell the ending!)

The new don’s wife has just realized he killed his own brother. She is absolutely beside herself, doesn’t know what to think or do. Then she joins his mother (who has been the wife of a don herself, all her life) in Church, so that they can pray rosaries together that their son and husband don’t have to go to hell when they die.

Perhaps this is what the OP meant. I remember how hard I cried when I read that – I felt the deep remorse those (admittedly hypothetical) women must have felt. The new don’s wife wasn’t even Catholic, but she became one, so she could pray for him to be delivered from his sins. A tall task, no doubt, but my heart went out to these women – not to their beloved men.
 
Thx for entering the Lukan gospel passage, you saved me some wear and tear on my hands:)

From this gospel, we can tell a) these dead humans kept their voices, sight, and forms, as well as their minds; and b) this made visual and vocal, but not physical, contact possible between worlds. Abraham was able to see and converse with the RM, but not comfort him.

Also, the RM, not Lazarus or Abraham, initiated the conversation. He had a need, which was not fulfilled. Whereas, Lazarus was in fulfillment of all his needs, which had gone unfulfilled throughout his human life. He had no need to converse with the RM. Likewise, Heavenly life will meet all your human needs. You will have no desire for anybody not there, even though contact is possible.
 
Jesus,our Lords peace be whit You.
We dont know what heaven is,but I think that the ansver is sadly No. I ansvered this “No” because no one who has gone to heave before me has said anything to me,and what comes to chatting between heaven and hell,You got that ansver,wich I would have given You,in the story about Lasarus and the rich man. But one thing I know for sure,if we live like God wants,I will find all loved who has gone before me,and those still on earth I will meet when they enter the pearlgates,this I know for sure.
Blessings,
Totterman
 
Thanks very much for all your answers, they will lead me to further readings… 🙂
 
Let me add a “nugget” of information here-----------------

I don’t know whether one can ACTUALLY talk to the Damned from Heaven, but I DO remember Tertullian stating that the Blessed can WATCH from Heaven the Damned being tormented perpetually in hell for the Blessed’s edifying pleasure.

One of the reasons I remember this is the fact that Nietzsche REALLY hated what Tertullian stated----and gave this little theological point as one of the reasons he could not accept Christianity.
Personally I disagree with Tertullian, but ANYTHING that upset ole Friedrich is not totally bad by me in my book. 👍
 
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