Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

Some souls deeply penetrated by liberalism have claimed that the faithful, imitating the most sweet Savior, should never include in their incitements to do good any kind of threats of future punishments, as a language full of such warnings is inappropriate for heralds of the Religion of love.

Obviously, apprehension over future punishments should not be the only motivation for virtue. This reservation made, we do not see where these liberals got the idea that it is a fault against charity to speak about hell. Let us see how the apostles spoke about the punishments we deserve after death, in hell or in purgatory:

Seeing it is a just thing with God to repay tribulation to them that trouble you. And to you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with the angels of his power: In a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be made wonderful in all them who have believed; because our testimony was believed upon you in that day. (79)

And Our Lord said of purgatory: "Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing." (80)

In regard to hell, let us hear the words of the sweetest Master:

Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it! (81)

And Jesus hearing this, marveled; and said to them that followed him: Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (82)

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city shake off the dust from your feet. Amen I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. (83)

But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (84)

The queen of the south shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold a greater than Solomon here. (85)

 Wonder not at this: for the hour cometh, wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. (86)

Let us see other passages from the New Testament:

The Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine, but dealeth patiently for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance. But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with great violence, and the elements shall be melted with heat, and the earth and the works which are in it, shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conversation and godliness? Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burning heat? But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to his promises, in which justice dwelleth. (87)

And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp two-edged sword; that with it he may strike the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God the Almighty. (88)

He that shall overcome shall possess these things, and I will be his God; and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (89)

Notes:

79) 2 Thess. 1:6-10.

80) Matt. 5:26.

81) Matt. 7:13-14.

82) Matt. 8:10-12.

83) Matt. 10:14-15.

84) Matt. 12:36-37.

85) Matt. 12:42.

86) John 5:28-29.

87) 2 Peter 3:9-13.

88) Apoc. 19:15.

89) Apoc. 21:7-8.

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