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Fire of Hell

In the parable of the Gospel, the rich man buried in Hell cries out to Lazarus, "I am tormented
in this flame." (Lk. 16:24). He says, "in this flame; to show that the fire of Hell is a fire of a
particular type, a fire prepared expressly to avenge the injuries which sin has done to God by
carnal pleasures. For, as the book of Ecclesiasticus remarks, "the vengeance on the flesh of the
ungodly is fire and worms." (Eccl. 7:19). Hence, St. Thomas argues that this fire will be the in­
strument of the avenging justice of Almighty God.

Can a Spiritual Soul Feel Fire?

But here a difficulty is posed: how is it possible for corporeal fire to torment the spiritual
soul? In answer to this question, we can only say that we know that it can be done. Perhaps the
answer lies in this explanation of many theologians. The material fire of Hell will be given an
extraordinary power by God, whereby it will be able to bind the spiritual soul to its place of
torment, thus causing the soul untold humiliation and pain.

Punishment by Cold

In this same fire, St. Thomas remarks, the bodies of the damned, in addition to the intense heat,
will endure bitter cold, passing from one to the other, without knowing a moment of relief. Thus
do Scripture scholars explain the passage of the