351. More on the eternity of Hell
351. MORE ON THE ETERNITY OF HELL
There is a Russian story about an evil, nasty, selfish old woman who was being taken to Heaven on an onion because she had once given an onion to a hungry beggar. It was the one and only good deed in her life, but it was real and God honored it. Is something like that possible? If not, will all the good deeds of mercy and love that those in Hell had performed on earth be simply forgotten or erased?
Whether all those who perform works of mercy will be punished eternally?
It is written (1 Cor 6:9-10): Neither fornicators . . . nor adulterers, etc., shall possess the kingdom of God. Yet many are such who practice works of mercy. Therefore not all of the merciful will come to the eternal kingdom, and consequently some of them will be punished eternally. . . .
Nothing profits unto eternal life in the absence of charity. Now it happens that certain persons persevere in works of mercy without having charity. . . . Most evident is this in the case of those who lay hands on other people’s property, for after seizing on many things, they nevertheless spend something in works of mercy. . . .
Objection 2. Further (Mt 25:3-46) we find a description of our Lord’s discussion with the damned and the elect. But this discussion is only about works of mercy. Therefore eternal punishment will be awarded only to such as have omitted to practice works of mercy. . . .
Reply to Objection 2. The reason why the discussion refers only to the works of mercy is not because eternal punishment will be inflicted on none but those who omit those works, but because eternal punishment will be remitted to those who after sinning have obtained forgiveness by their works of mercy. . . (However “enough” good works without repentance cannot save us. We cannot “buy” Heaven.)
Objection 3. Further, it is written (Matt 6:12): Forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors, and further on (vs. 14): For if you will forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offenses. Therefore it would seem that the merciful, who forgive others their offenses, will themselves obtain the forgiveness of their sins, and consequently will not be punished eternally.
Reply to Objection 3. Our Lord said this to those who ask that their debt be forgiven, but not to those who persist in sin. Wherefore the repentant alone will obtain by their works of mercy the forgiveness that sets them free. . . .
Objection 4. Further, a gloss of Ambrose on 1 Timothy 4:8, Godliness is profitable to all things, says: . . . though he should suffer from the inconstancy of the flesh, without doubt he will be scourged but he will not perish. . . .
Reply to Objection 4. Those who while yet in this life fall into sins of the flesh through frailty are disposed to repentance by works of mercy. Wherefore such a one will not perish, that is to say, he will be disposed by those works not to perish, through grace bestowed on him by our Lord, Who is blessed for evermore. Amen (S99,5).
Once again, divine revelation has to trump human feeling. That is St. Thomas’ first reason.
If works of mercy alone were enough to save us, without the life of charity (agape, caritas) in the soul, which is supernatural, and which is the very life (zoe) of God, and which must be received by faith, then we could buy Heaven by becoming robbers and then giving away our ill-gotten gains.
Christ made it very clear that repentance and faith, as well as works of love and mercy, are needed for salvation. We must have the right relation to God as well as to our fellow men. They are parts of an organic whole. Each part disposes us to, and leads to, the other parts.
(By the way, Christ did not say just how explicit, clear, conscious, and accurate the repentance and faith had to be. Heaven’s doorman judges hearts more than heads.)
And in that Russian story, the old lady eventually went to Hell because she refused to share her onion with another who needed it even as it was taking her to Heaven.