January 16, 2010

  • Question 213 - Loved Ones Sent to Hell

    Robert, I know that you have addressed this question before, but I can't recall your response. Anyway, my question is how can the eternal loss of our loved ones be reconciled with the beatific state in heaven? This is a question that many of my students have, and I can't seem to find the answer. God bless your ministry, and may you have a blessed New Year.

    R. Sungenis: If a “loved one” is sent to hell it is because they are evil and refuse to repent. In that sense, there really is no true love in them and there is really nothing for us to love in them. As such, we must move to the point in our understanding of them that they are our enemies and God’s enemies. If they were allowed to continue in that state without being sent to hell, they would inevitably corrupt and destroy us, no matter how pleasant they may now seem on the surface. Hence, we must come to the point that we, with God, desire having them separated from us and being punished for their sins. When we behold the Beatific Vision, we will, all the more, be able to see these wicked “loved ones” for who they really are, and thus there will be no conflict in our adoring of God. We will see them as God sees them, and thus we will completely understand why they were sent to hell and why we should be happy, not sad, that they were sent to hell.