Saints Visiting Hell

[Dark_Warrior]

I’m told by Catholics that saints have visited Hell, led by God, and have been shown the dammed souls sufferings, like:

"an impenetrable smothering “thick” darkness that is like a substance. The odors are also unimaginably putrid and mixed with the stench of sulfur and noxious fumes. There are also the classic conveyances of demonic shapes and terrible demons that claw, eat, devour and torment specific areas of the body that have been used in commission of sin (tongue, entrails, sexual organs, eyes, etc.) and the body constantly regenerates in endless repetition of the same torments."

Which Saints supposedly witnessed these horrific things?

 

[pa226p]

Thats a first for me… I’ve never heard that story. Sounds like a camp fire tail…

 

[thistle]

I’m told by Catholics that saints have visited Hell, led by God, and have been shown the dammed souls sufferings, like:

"an impenetrable smothering “thick” darkness that is like a substance. The odors are also unimaginably putrid and mixed with the stench of sulfur and noxious fumes. There are also the classic conveyances of demonic shapes and terrible demons that claw, eat, devour and torment specific areas of the body that have been used in commission of sin (tongue, entrails, sexual organs, eyes, etc.) and the body constantly regenerates in endless repetition of the same torments."

Which Saints supposedly witnessed these horrific things?

Somebody is pulling your leg or else they are confusing visiting hell with visions of hell which some saints had.

 

[ncgolf]

I’m told by Catholics that saints have visited Hell, led by God, and have been shown the dammed souls sufferings, like:

"an impenetrable smothering “thick” darkness that is like a substance. The odors are also unimaginably putrid and mixed with the stench of sulfur and noxious fumes. There are also the classic conveyances of demonic shapes and terrible demons that claw, eat, devour and torment specific areas of the body that have been used in commission of sin (tongue, entrails, sexual organs, eyes, etc.) and the body constantly regenerates in endless repetition of the same torments."

Which Saints supposedly witnessed these horrific things?

St. Faustina, a Polish nun canonized by JP II, was granted a vision of hell similar to what you describe. Also the 3 shepard kids at Fatima were granted a vision of hell also.

 

[MarcoPolo]

There are several visions of hell by saints, such as Sister Lucia. Many of these narratives are catalogued in the book Hell by Fr. F.X. Schouppe.

 

[FCEGM]

“A long time after the Lord had already granted me many of the favors I’ve mentioned and other very lofty ones, while I was in prayer one day, I suddenly found that, without knowing how, I had seemingly [my emphasis] been put in hell. I understood that the Lord wanted me to see the place the devils had prepared there for me and which I merited because of my sins. This experience took place within the shortest space of time, but even were I to live for many years I think it would be impossible for me to forget it.” The Autobiography of St. Teresa of Jesus, chapter. 32

 

[EmeraldWings]

Saint Don Bosco visited hell and had physical proof afterwards, read the story here -

todayscatholicworld.com/bosco_hell.htm

and there are many other saints who have either visited, or been shown visions of hell, some of their stories can be found here -
olrl.org/doctrine/came_back.shtml

of course hell is not a place of physical pain as we know it, and we cannot fully understand hell, or what it is or how it works, but that’s not an issue that concerns us, and what hell is or where it is does not limit someone from seeing it or even going to it, because if God wants to let someone see it or go to it, He can, and that’s all we need to know.

no one should be able to decide whether someone could see or visit hell, because it’s something that can’t fully be understood or explained.

 

[Dark_Warrior]

Saint Don Bosco visited hell and had physical proof afterwards, read the story here -

todayscatholicworld.com/bosco_hell.htm

and there are many other saints who have either visited, or been shown visions of hell, some of their stories can be found here -
olrl.org/doctrine/came_back.shtml

of course hell is not a place of physical pain as we know it, and we cannot fully understand hell, or what it is or how it works, but that’s not an issue that concerns us, and what hell is or where it is does not limit someone from seeing it or even going to it, because if God wants to let someone see it or go to it, He can, and that’s all we need to know.

no one should be able to decide whether someone could see or visit hell, because it’s something that can’t fully be understood or explained.

that first read about hell frightened me. especially about confession. i already have a mental illness that makes confession difficult, OCD, it’s hard to explain things, worrying if i did it EXACTLY right and perfect. i feel scruplous right not, and feel like weeping.

 

[EmeraldWings]

that first read about hell frightened me. especially about confession. i already have a mental illness that makes confession difficult, OCD, it’s hard to explain things, worrying if i did it EXACTLY right and perfect. i feel scruplous right not, and feel like weeping.

i see, well i understand how you feel, although i have a different mental defect(not nearly as troublesome) i still know how frustrating it feels, it’s hard, but you need to understand that God is all fair, He knows of your problems, and He takes them into account, he will not judge you unfairly, if your confused about something or really unsure, He knows, and He also knows your true intentions, and even if you didn’t make a perfect confession, God knows your true desires, and will forgive you still, because it’s not the words you say that make Him forgive you, it’s the action and the intention, and the sorrow and regret for your sins, of course what you say and how you say it is important in confession, but if you make mistakes, God understands, He knows all, and He loves you very much, and He longs to forgive you more then you know,
if you feel you have not made a good a confession as you think you could have, then afterwards, just pray to God to help you make a better one next time, He will not reject your request.

the thing of it is, if you honestly don’t know if you committed a mortal sin, then chances are you didn’t, because in order to commit a mortal sin, you need to have full consent to it, meaning you thought about it, knew it would be a sin, and decided to do it anyways,

you will be pleasing to God as long as you keep trying, don’t let anything or anyone stop you from reaching your goal, even if it takes you your entire life, God is pleased with perseverance very much,
try reading the lives of the saints and follow their examples and advice, read the books they have written, and most of all, read about the life of Jesus, learn to know and love Him, when you learn to love Him, it will be much easier for you to change your life and your mindset, and never stop trying to love Him more, your love for Him will never stop growing,

if you want some help, i can show you a book i think will help most for you to start living each day how you should, doing Gods will, and not being a slave to your human nature anymore.
and also a book(well, a set of books) on the life of Jesus and biblical revelations, which i think will help you to know and love Jesus more.
tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/610/keywords/anne+catherine+emmerich/
catholicfreeshipping.com/Products/cfs_gensym-152.html

also, for your mental illnesses, a very good saint to pray to is saint Dymphna,
here’s a prayer i pray all the time from the “Catholic Prayers” booklet, which you can also find on tanbooks.com

O Lord, God, Who has graciously chosen St. Dymphna to be the patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders, and has caused her to an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who invoke her intercession, grant, through the prayers of this pure, youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all who suffer from these disturbances, and especially to those for whom we now pray.
(Here mention those for whom you wish to pray.)
We beg You to accept and to satisfy the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant us patience in all our sufferings and resignation to Thy Divine Will. Fill us with hope and, if it be in accord with Thy Divine Plan, bestow upon me(him, her) the cure I so earnestly ask for. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

alright, i hope this all helps you, i just wanted try and help somehow because i know(at least partly) how you’re feeling.

 

[Dark_Warrior]

i see, well i understand how you feel, although i have a different mental defect(not nearly as troublesome) i still know how frustrating it feels, it’s hard, but you need to understand that God is all fair, He knows of your problems, and He takes them into account, he will not judge you unfairly, if your confused about something or really unsure, He knows, and He also knows your true intentions, and even if you didn’t make a perfect confession, God knows your true desires, and will forgive you still, because it’s not the words you say that make Him forgive you, it’s the action and the intention, and the sorrow and regret for your sins, of course what you say and how you say it is important in confession, but if you make mistakes, God understands, He knows all, and He loves you very much, and He longs to forgive you more then you know,
if you feel you have not made a good a confession as you think you could have, then afterwards, just pray to God to help you make a better one next time, He will not reject your request.

the thing of it is, if you honestly don’t know if you committed a mortal sin, then chances are you didn’t, because in order to commit a mortal sin, you need to have full consent to it, meaning you thought about it, knew it would be a sin, and decided to do it anyways,

you will be pleasing to God as long as you keep trying, don’t let anything or anyone stop you from reaching your goal, even if it takes you your entire life, God is pleased with perseverance very much,
try reading the lives of the saints and follow their examples and advice, read the books they have written, and most of all, read about the life of Jesus, learn to know and love Him, when you learn to love Him, it will be much easier for you to change your life and your mindset, and never stop trying to love Him more, your love for Him will never stop growing,

if you want some help, i can show you a book i think will help most for you to start living each day how you should, doing Gods will, and not being a slave to your human nature anymore.
and also a book(well, a set of books) on the life of Jesus and biblical revelations, which i think will help you to know and love Jesus more.
tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/610/keywords/anne+catherine+emmerich/
catholicfreeshipping.com/Products/cfs_gensym-152.html

also, for your mental illnesses, a very good saint to pray to is saint Dymphna,
here’s a prayer i pray all the time from the “Catholic Prayers” booklet, which you can also find on tanbooks.com

O Lord, God, Who has graciously chosen St. Dymphna to be the patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders, and has caused her to an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who invoke her intercession, grant, through the prayers of this pure, youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all who suffer from these disturbances, and especially to those for whom we now pray.
(Here mention those for whom you wish to pray.)
We beg You to accept and to satisfy the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant us patience in all our sufferings and resignation to Thy Divine Will. Fill us with hope and, if it be in accord with Thy Divine Plan, bestow upon me(him, her) the cure I so earnestly ask for. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

alright, i hope this all helps you, i just wanted try and help somehow because i know(at least partly) how you’re feeling.

Oh blessings be to you!! blessings be to you!!! Thank you so much, you warmed my heart my brother (or sister).

I’m also gladed the Sain for mental illness’s is a woman. For some strange reason, I find it easier talking to woman than I do men on certain matters, especially if she’s a Saint in Heaven with the Lord. I don’t know why, is that strange?

Anyhow, thanks again for the kind words and prayers. You’ll be in mine too!!

 

[rubycanoe]

I do not believe in the private revelations of souls in hell, as the catechism teaches us we do NOT have to believe in private revelations, and it also teaches us, that as far as we know NO ONE is in hell at this time. I do not believe in Fatima because there is no way God would show children hell, and Faustina either. We are NOT required as Catholics to believe in private revelation. I do believe in some private revelations but not these two, or other showing hell, as again we are taught we do not have to believe anyone is actually in hell at this time.

 

[RosaryFan]

I’m told by Catholics that saints have visited Hell, led by God, and have been shown the dammed souls sufferings, like:

"an impenetrable smothering “thick” darkness that is like a substance. The odors are also unimaginably putrid and mixed with the stench of sulfur and noxious fumes. There are also the classic conveyances of demonic shapes and terrible demons that claw, eat, devour and torment specific areas of the body that have been used in commission of sin (tongue, entrails, sexual organs, eyes, etc.) and the body constantly regenerates in endless repetition of the same torments."

Which Saints supposedly witnessed these horrific things?

Saint Faustina, for one. Her diary is riveting.

 

[sodak]

I do not believe in the private revelations of souls in hell, as the catechism teaches us we do NOT have to believe in private revelations, and it also teaches us, that as far as we know NO ONE is in hell at this time. I do not believe in Fatima because there is no way God would show children hell, and Faustina either. We are NOT required as Catholics to believe in private revelation. I do believe in some private revelations but not these two, or other showing hell, as again we are taught we do not have to believe anyone is actually in hell at this time.

Thank you. I was thinking the exact same thing, but you expressed it much better than I could have.

 

[ncfjj]

Since when do we not believe as Catholics that there are souls in Hell. I don’t recall being taught that, and I’m pretty sure that it isn’t in the Catechism. If it is, please provide the paragraph number.

 

[SMGS127]

Since when do we not believe as Catholics that there are souls in Hell. I don’t recall being taught that, and I’m pretty sure that it isn’t in the Catechism. If it is, please provide the paragraph number.

CCC 1035:

The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, "eternal fire."617 The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

 

[gmanlq]

I’m told by Catholics that saints have visited Hell, led by God, and have been shown the dammed souls sufferings, like:

"an impenetrable smothering “thick” darkness that is like a substance. The odors are also unimaginably putrid and mixed with the stench of sulfur and noxious fumes. There are also the classic conveyances of demonic shapes and terrible demons that claw, eat, devour and torment specific areas of the body that have been used in commission of sin (tongue, entrails, sexual organs, eyes, etc.) and the body constantly regenerates in endless repetition of the same torments."

Which Saints supposedly witnessed these horrific things?

I believe the three children of Fatima were shown a vision of hell by Our Lady of Fatima. I don’t know if the descriptions match yours. The kids names, who are now saints, were Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia. Hope this helps.

 

[mikekle]

I think alot of people tend to forget Hell was initially created for Satan and the other fallen angels, it is THEIR place of torment and punishment, It seems alot of people think they are the ‘wardens’ of hell and rule the place…Id like to know where this belief came from and where people got this idea?

Id say Satan and the fallen angels are probably in much worse torment than a human soul could be in, while in hell, but then again, it does seem Satan and other demons have the ability to come and go from hell, so that doesnt really make sense either.

 

[TK421]

I realize private revelation isn’t part of the deposit of faith, but for those Catholics who don’t believe in any of these private revelations, what are your reasons?

For example: St. Bosco. Apart from being an educator and founder of the Salesians, did he also just deliberately lie and fabricate his entire vision? Or was it an incredible hallucination? A bad dream? What about St. Faustina? Or the three Saints at Fatima?

It just doesn’t add up to me. These were gracious, pro-active, healthy people. They were either villainous liars, were well-meaning but became spontaneously delusional, or the vision was authentic.

 

[sodak]

I realize private revelation isn’t part of the deposit of faith, but for those Catholics who don’t believe in any of these private revelations, what are your reasons?

For example: St. Bosco. Apart from being an educator and founder of the Salesians, did he also just deliberately lie and fabricate his entire vision? Or was it an incredible hallucination? A bad dream? What about St. Faustina? Or the three Saints at Fatima?

It just doesn’t add up to me. These were gracious, pro-active, healthy people. They were either villainous liars, were well-meaning but became spontaneously delusional, or the vision was authentic.

Good questions.

You are right, private revelations are only binding to those whom the revelations are given. As for St. Bosco, he claimed (or this author claimed) that a boy was ready to be cast into the pits of hell, then was told that he hadn’t yet been judged, and got a second chance when St. Bosco woke him from death.

Really? What does the CCC teach us? That we are judged by Jesus at the moment of death.

This story seems like a heretical fabrication to me.

 

[Wafflenator]

Since when do we not believe as Catholics that there are souls in Hell. I don’t recall being taught that, and I’m pretty sure that it isn’t in the Catechism. If it is, please provide the paragraph number.

I have heard several priests, including Bishop Robert Barron, emphasize that the church does not claim that any particular person is in Hell. They also teach that there is reason to hope for the salvation of even the greatest sinners.

There is, of course, some nuance in that teaching. Someone not paying attention might hear that as the church saying there are no souls in Hell.