No Actual Heaven or Hell?
Regarding Heaven
Written by Pope
John Paul II --- July 1999
"In the context
of Revelation, we know that the 'heaven' or
'happiness' in which we will find ourselves is neither an abstraction
nor
a physical place in the clouds, but a living, personal relationship with
the Holy Trinity. It is our
meeting with the Father which takes place in
the risen Christ through the communion of the Holy Spirit. It is always
necessary
to maintain a certain restraint in describing these 'ultimate
realities ' since their depiction is always unsatisfactory.
Today's person-
alist language is better suited to describing the state of happiness and
peace we will enjoy
in our definitive communion with God." 1
Regarding Hell
Written by Pope
John Paul II --- August 1999
"The images of hell
that Sacred Scripture presents to us must be
correctly interpreted. They show the complete frustration and emptiness
of
life without God.. ..More than a place, hell indicates the state of those
who freely and definitively separate themselves
from God. Hell is not
punishment imposed externally by God, but the condition resulting from
attitudes and actions which
people adopt in this life. Scripture uses
many images to describe the pain, frustration and emptiness of life
without
God. More than a physical place, hell is the state of those who
freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the
source of all
life and joy. So eternal damnation is not God's work but is actually our
own doing." 2
1 L'Osservatore Romano; "Heaven is Fullness of Communication
with God"; Editorial and Management Offices; Via del Pellegrino,
00120, Vatican City, Europe; July 28.1999; Spoken by the Pope
in general audience on July 21,1999; Full article may be seen at
[www.vatican.va].
2 L'Osservatore Romano; "Hell is the State of Those who Reject
God"; Editorial and Management Offices; Via del Pellegrino,
00120, Vatican City, Europe; August 4.1999; Spoken by the Pope
in general audience on July 28.1999. Full article may be seen at
[www.vatican.va]
