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Rosie11
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Are their even levels of hell? I heard this before but I really can’t remember I was only around 8 or 9 when I heard someone talking about it did anyone else ever hear about This
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Augustinian
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That’s the plot of the Dante’s Divine Comedy, the different circles of Hell aren’t taught in the Catholic Church.
Although this idea is part of modern, western thought which has been adopted by others after Dante.
Although this idea is part of modern, western thought which has been adopted by others after Dante.
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ProdglArchitect
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Dante wrote about levels of Hell in his work, The Inferno.
We do not know if there are literal levels in Hell, but we do know that people in Hell suffer according to their sins, so that could be considered levels.
We do not know if there are literal levels in Hell, but we do know that people in Hell suffer according to their sins, so that could be considered levels.
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Wm777
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I haven’t read it in a long time, either.
But - perhaps - it is because there are Nine Choirs of Angels ascending to God… and the souls originally cast into hell were fallen angels… and they eventually descend lower and lower until they reach the devil himself… so it is like the exact oppostie of the choirs of Angels ascent to heaven…
But that is just Dante’s poem… It isn’t what actually is, or is taught…
But - perhaps - it is because there are Nine Choirs of Angels ascending to God… and the souls originally cast into hell were fallen angels… and they eventually descend lower and lower until they reach the devil himself… so it is like the exact oppostie of the choirs of Angels ascent to heaven…
But that is just Dante’s poem… It isn’t what actually is, or is taught…
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BartholomewB
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(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
This is one of several helpful illustrations you will find in Dorothy L. Sayers’ translation of the Inferno. To what extent Dante was faithfully basing his narrative on the theologians of his time, and to what extent he was adding to them from his own imagination, I can’t tell you, but from memory I think Sayers gives a fairly full explanation in her notes.
This is one of several helpful illustrations you will find in Dorothy L. Sayers’ translation of the Inferno. To what extent Dante was faithfully basing his narrative on the theologians of his time, and to what extent he was adding to them from his own imagination, I can’t tell you, but from memory I think Sayers gives a fairly full explanation in her notes.
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Wm777
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It’s kind of funny you ask, though… because… like… isn’t this supposed to be a Catholic forum? 
What does it matter if there are any circles in hell? We’re looking to heaven, no?
Actually, I am just teazing you a bit… when we discussed the Divine Comedy in school… everyone found hell more interesting than heaven… Heaven was perceived as rather boring…
Personally, my policy was - Hell: Nice place, but I wouldn’t want to live there…
What does it matter if there are any circles in hell? We’re looking to heaven, no?
Actually, I am just teazing you a bit… when we discussed the Divine Comedy in school… everyone found hell more interesting than heaven… Heaven was perceived as rather boring…
Personally, my policy was - Hell: Nice place, but I wouldn’t want to live there…
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Rosie11
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I was just wandering what it was it was so long ago that I heard people talking about it I wasn’t sure if it was a dream or a memory lol
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Wm777
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One thing I have learned since school is - Dante was actually a 3rd Order Franciscan under the old old rule; and, the Franciscan Order would have been about 150-200 years old during his time (1265-1321)…
Thomas Aquinas, who I think was the one who theorized about the Nine Choirs in the Summa Theologica, lived 1225-1274, so there might have been some connections between Dante and Aquinas.
Thomas Aquinas, who I think was the one who theorized about the Nine Choirs in the Summa Theologica, lived 1225-1274, so there might have been some connections between Dante and Aquinas.
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Wm777
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That map - in fact, the entire idea of hell having a hierarchical structure - is kind of funny, too…
Like hell has an Upper Class…
Like hell has an Upper Class…
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ProdglArchitect
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Hell probably does have a hierarchy.
There is a hierarchy of angels, so it stands to reason that the fallen angels would retain some concept of that hierarchy. We also know that people suffer in proportion to their sins, so the person who sins more will have a “higher” place in the tiers of suffering. We also know that Catholics, and especially clergy, who are damned suffer in greater measure than others due to their knowledge and their access to the sacraments.
So, yeah, there is definitely a hierarchy to Hell…
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Wm777
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Well, okay, but it kind of makes me wonder how you know so much about the matter… 
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Augustinian
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Dante’s circles of hell were more than just a hierarchy, but also prescribed different punishments for different kinds of sinners.
Sort of like hell in the Simpsons.
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ProdglArchitect
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I’m planning to write a book about Hell and have been doing a lot of reading on the subject from various sources, especially Catholic mystics who’ve had visions of Hell.
Some of it is also from St. Thomas Aquinas.
Some of it is also from St. Thomas Aquinas.
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Wm777
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ProdglArchitect
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St. Thomas Aquinas had a lot to say about Hell, and tons of saints have been given visions of Hell throughout history; St. John Bosco, the Fatima children, and Theresa of Avela, just to name a few.
(Or were you just commenting on the fact that I repeated some information from your first post back to you… because I didn’t realize you were the one who had written that until I just looked at it again…)
St. Thomas Aquinas had a lot to say about Hell, and tons of saints have been given visions of Hell throughout history; St. John Bosco, the Fatima children, and Theresa of Avela, just to name a few.
(Or were you just commenting on the fact that I repeated some information from your first post back to you… because I didn’t realize you were the one who had written that until I just looked at it again…)
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Dan_Defender
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Never mind levels. Hell is full of confusion, despair, discord, grief. That’s all one needs to know.
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