The Penguin Book of Hell by Scott G. Bruce

Author:Scott G. Bruce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2018-09-03T16:00:00+00:00

ARTICLE 2. WHETHER THE BLESSED PITY THE MISERIES OF THE DAMNED.

OBJECTION 1. It would seem that the blessed pity the miseries of the damned. For pity proceeds from charity, and charity will be most perfect in the blessed. Therefore, they will most certainly pity the miseries of the damned.

OBJECTION 2. Furthermore, the blessed will never be as removed from pity as God. Yet, in a sense, God has sympathy for our afflictions and for this reason He is said to be merciful. And likewise, so do the angels. Therefore, the blessed pity the miseries of the damned.

ON THE CONTRARY, whoever pities another person is a participant in their misery. But the blessed cannot participate in any misery. Therefore, they do not pity the miseries of the damned.

I ANSWER THAT, mercy or compassion may exist in a person in two ways: first, by way of passion; second, by way of choice. In the blessed, there will be no passion in them, except as a result of the choice of reason. Hence, compassion and mercy will not be in them, except by the choice of reason. Now, mercy or compassion result from the reason’s choice, namely, when a person wishes another person’s evil to be dispelled. It follows that in those things which, in accordance with reason, we do not wish to be dispelled, we have no such compassion. But as long as sinners are in the world, they are in such a state that, without prejudice to the divine justice, they can be rescued from a state of unhappiness and sin to a state of happiness. Consequently, it is possible to have compassion for them both by the choice of will—in this sense, God, the angels, and the blessed are said to pity them by desiring their salvation—and by passion, as they are pitied by good people who are wayfarers. But in their future state, it will be impossible for them to be rescued from their unhappiness, and consequently, it will not be possible to pity their miseries according to reason. Therefore, the blessed in glory will have no pity on the damned.

REPLY TO OBJECTION 1. Charity is the principle of pity, when it is possible for us out of charity to desire the end of a person’s unhappiness. But the saints cannot desire this for the damned, because it would be contrary to divine justice. As a result, the argument is not convincing.

REPLY TO OBJECTION 2. God is said to be merciful, insofar as He helps those who it is appropriate to be released from their miseries in accordance with the order of wisdom and justice, but He does not show pity toward the damned, except perhaps in punishing them less than they deserve.

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