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book of Job: "Let him pass from the snow water
to excessive heat, and his sin even to hell." (Job
24:19). Hence, St. Jerome says, the damned in Hell endure all their torments in this one
fire.

Remorse of Conscience

In addition to their sufferings from the heat and cold of the fire of Hell, Sacred Scripture
enumerates a number of other torments which will afflict the damned. One of these is the "worm;"
to which the Scriptures refer frequently. Some commentators have explained this "worm" as a
material thing, which will feed upon, without consuming, the flesh of the damned. But most
theologians explain it metaphorically as the remorse of conscience which will afflict the damned
in the fire and darkness of Hell. Forever will they have imprinted on their memories the results of
their sins; forever will they repeat the words ascribed to them in the book of Wisdom: "We have
erred from the way of truth, we wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction and have
walked through hard ways. What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of
riches brought us? .. . Such things as these the sinners said in hell." (Wis. 5:6-14).

Suffering from Devils and Darkness

Added to their own remorse of conscience, the damned will also be tormented by the reproaches of
the demons. This will be one of the most cruel,