Anthony Tao wrote: |
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Hi, guys —
Once Saint Macarius was walking and saw a skull lying upon the ground. He asked,
“Who are you”?
The skull answered,
“I was a chief priest of the pagans. When you, Abba, pray for those in Hell, we receive some mitigation.”
The monk asked,
“What are these torments?”
“We are sitting in a great fire”, replied the skull, “and we do not see one another. When you pray, we begin to see each other somewhat, and this affords us some comfort.”
Having heard such words, the saint began to weep and asked,
“Are there still more fierce torments?”
The skull answered,
“Down below us are those who knew the Name of God but spurned Him and did not keep His Commandments. They endure even more grievous torments.”
I love the sayings of the Desert Fathers very much, but I am confused by this saying, in which Abba Macarius was told to pray for those already in Hell.
- I wonder whether this idea is in accordance with the Catholic Faith?
Anthony |
| { Is this saying by Abba St. Macarius in accordance with the Catholic Faith? } |
Eric replied:
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Anthony,
This would not be generally aligned with the Catholic faith as it has developed since St. Macarius's time. Those in Hell cannot, as generally understood, be helped by our prayers (although it is not clear to me that this teaching is dogmatic). According to the 1913 Catholic encyclopedia:
A few Fathers and theologians, particularly the poet Prudentius, expressed the opinion that on stated days God grants the damned a certain respite, and that besides this, the prayers of the faithful obtain for them other occasional intervals of rest. The Church has never condemned this opinion in express terms. But now theologians are justly unanimous in rejecting it. St. Thomas condemns it severely (In IV Sent., dist. xlv, Q. xxix, cl. 1).
Hontheim, Joseph, “Hell,” ed. by Charles G. Herbermann, Edward A. Pace, Condé B. Pallen, Thomas J. Shahan, and John J. Wynne, The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church (New York: The Encyclopedia Press; The Universal Knowledge Foundation, 1907–1913) |
Eric
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