Actually, St. Thomas disagrees with this:
newadvent.org/summa/5089.htm#4.
He’s not infallible, but he is a very powerful source.
Note that this particular question was compiled by his associates from his work after his death, so it may be less weighty. Nevertheless, it still more than likely reflects Thomas’ thoughts very accurately.
I easily could be incorrect, since I am a fairly recent convert. Although I finished RCIA about three years ago, RCIA is really only basic things and there is a lot that I do not know. And much of my thinking is still influenced by my Protestant upbringing.
Thank you for the link to St. Thomas Aquinas.
St. Thomas Aquinas:
I answer that, The Master in the text of Sentent. iv, D, 47 mentions two opinions on this question, both of which seem consistent with Divine justice, because it is just for man to be subjected to the devil for having sinned, and yet it is unjust for the demon to be over him. Accordingly the opinion which holds that after the judgment day the demons will not be placed over men to punish them, regards the order of Divine justice on the part of the demons punishing; while the contrary opinion regards the order of Divine justice on the part of the men punished.
Which of these opinions is nearer the truth we cannot know for certain. …
And following this are his own opinions where he leans one way but it seems plain that he is uncertain.
If we are fortunate, may we be uncertain as well in eternity and not find out the answer. In heaven, I do hope we will not want to think about hell because there will be much better things to contemplate.
However, my own opinion (largely formed before thinking more Catholic) is that since the demons rebelled before man, God created hell for their punishment before he created man. And yet God knew all of what would happen from before the beginning of time. I suppose that those who receive sentence of punishment in hell will be punished in hell. And yet it is obvious that angels and all those deserving eternal bliss in heaven will be in heaven and not sent to hell.
Man is now capable of making artificially intelligent computers and computers that can control robots or machinery. Such machinery in itself is not capable sinning or making moral decisions using a conscience. God is quite capable of making much better things than man can imagine. Perhaps both men and demons in hell will be tormented by merely physical or spiritual phenomenon. Or minimally created devices of some intelligence which are in themselves incapable of knowing God or feeling any punishment in hell. Some of which is temperature, molten brimstone. Some of which might be automated voices reminding the damned of their sentences and of the justice that they deserve.
I suppose that men and demons may be eternally tormented without requiring any one them to be in any contact with another. In our western human jails, the worst offenders have solitary confinement. I do suppose that in hell solitary confinement is the norm. That no demon will gain any contentment or pleasure from being able to do anything to another demon or man. And same with the damned humans.
I also suppose that St. Thomas Aquinas’s leaning towards one opinion may be because he was more familiar with man than with demons. Or that in being a man he was more influenced by fear of punishment of humans than by fear of the punishment of demons.
Perhaps one of the greatest punishments in hell (a result of being in solitary confinement) is that the damned entity knows they will never again be heard by anyone. Nobody will listen. Nobody will console or even pretend for a moment to understand.
This much I am quite sure. Hell is a place where not one comfort in the prayer of St. Francis can be found.
Hell is:
where there is no peace;
where there is hatred and no love;
where there is injury and no pardon;
where there is doubt and no faith;
where there is despair and no hope;
where there is darkness and no light;
where there is sadness and no joy.
Hell is:
where there is no consolation and no place to even seek it;
where there is no one to listen and understand;
where there is no love and no one available to love;
where there is no one to give anything to;
where there is no one to receive anything from;
where there is no death available to take the damned away
and no birth possible of something new.
jmm08
