Dear Editor, I would like to thank Fr Rolheiser for his article about Hell (‘Our fear of Hell is a creation all of our own’ IC 04/08/2016).
The reason for my thanks is that the subject of Hell is rarely written or spoken about. This is surprising given that in the Gospels, Jesus warns us many times about the dangers of ending up in Hell and what we should do to avoid this happening to us.
The official teaching of the Church on Hell is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which quotes from the Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 7.13-14: “Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
For the bishops and the Pope to include this passage in their teaching on Hell should give us a healthy fear of Hell and a firm resolve to follow Jesus more closely.
Yours etc.,
John Deely,
Kilrush, Co. Clare