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He thoughtfully asked her, “Which do you prefer, suffer now for one day in Purgatory or for a
short while on earth?” She replied, “Jesus, I want to suffer in Purgatory, and I want to suffer
also the greatest pains on earth, even if it were until the end of the world.” Jesus then gave her a
general overview of her life of great suffering thereafter, in accord with His will for her:
One (of the two) is enough; you will go back to earth, and there you will suffer
much, but not for long; you will accomplish My will and My desires, and a
faithful servant of Mine will help you to do this. Now, rest your head on My
bosom, on My heart, and draw from its strength and power for these sufferings
because you will find neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else. Know
that you will have much, much to suffer, but do not let this frighten you; I am with
you (Diary, # 36).
II A.5 Suffering, Death, and Hell
The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of Hell and its eternity.
Immediately after death, the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin
descend into Hell, where they suffer the punishments of Hell, “eternal fire” (Mt
25:41). l The chief punishment of Hell is eternal separation from God, in whom
alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for
which he longs (CCC, 1035)…God predestines no one to go to Hell (CCC, 1037).
(Diary, # 741): Sr. Faustina wrote in her Diary that sometime in October 1936, a good
Angel escorted her into the depths of Hell. She said that the Lord clearly directed her to put in
writing that Hell does exist. She also learned about the horrific sufferings in Hell, including the
three general types of torture meted out for all of the souls of the damned. But, additionally, there
is a particular torture of the senses for specific souls condemned to Hell.
Sr. Faustina’s writings are consistent with the Church’s teaching on the existence of Hell
as a warning to sinners to heed God’s earnest “call to conversion…to repent and accept God’s
merciful love” (CCC, 1033, 1037). For man was meant to live his life with the viewpoint that his
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