Msgr.. Rossetti

Response: The Church has never officially said that any specific souls are in hell. On the other hand, it does declare individuals to be in heaven; these are canonized saints. For example, St. Carlo Acutis was recently canonized, along with St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.

The Church does declares that hell truly exists, following the teachings of Jesus. I personally find it interesting that St. Faustina, in her famous Diary, had a vision of hell and said that most of the souls in hell did not believe there was one. The private revelations of famous Catholic saints and mystics, such as the children of Fatima, sometimes included visions of hell, although these revelations are not de fide, ie., not formal Church teaching. I find them largely consistent in their visions of countless souls in hell. St. Faustina said of hell: "How awesomely large and extensive it is!" St. Frances of Rome saw "an extremely great and terribly abyss." Within such a great expanse, virtually all of these mystics saw countless souls.

Given these saints official recognition by the Church for their holiness, we might take their visions seriously. I get concerned when people suggest that "hell is empty." I think it is misleading. Jesus himself was asked the same question: "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus responded, "Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough" (Lk 13:23-24) and again Jesus said, "How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few" (Mt 7:14). The goal is not to frighten us but these words should serve as a warning. Heaven and hell are real. God and his saints are real, as are Satan and his demons. Equally important, Jesus is Lord and Savior and he has crushed Satan's kingdom and freed us from sin and death. Thus, when we have faith and trust in Jesus, and practice the Faith, we enter through the "narrow door" and are destined for eternal life with Him.

One of my concerns for people who get perhaps a bit too much into spiritual warfare is that they can give too much power to evil. Satan is merely a fallen angel, a creature who is chained and subject to God's power and justice. Followers of Jesus should live in confidence and trust, knowing that Jesus will protect us, despite any sufferings and challenges we face. As the Scriptures tell us: But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand" (Lk 21:28).


[For a good book on this, see Msgr. Charles Pope "The Hell There is" from Tan Books click below.]

https://www.catholicexorcism.org/by-exorcists