We know that there is fire in Hell, but it is entirely different from our fire; it neither gives light nor consumes what it burns, and it causes greater pain than the fire of earth, for it affects both body and soul.  We know that the damned will never see God and there will never be an end to their torments.  Now, all this is contained in the following:  Hell is the absence of everything good and the presence of everything evil, and it will last forever.  Now, a priest coming out to preach on Hell would not say to the people:  “Hell is the absence of everything good and the presence of everything evil, and it will last forever,” and then step down from the altar and say no more.  He must give a fuller explanation to those who are unable to think for themselves.  He must point out some of the evils present in Hell and some of the good things absent, and thus teach the people how to meditate on these dreadful truths.  If, then, you bear in mind that there is nothing good in Hell and it will last forever, and often think of these two points, you will have a holy fear of the woeful place and a deep sorrow for your sins which expose you to the danger of suffering its torments.

It should be enough, therefore, for you to remember:  there is nothing good in Hell, and it will last forever.  Think of anything good you please and it cannot be found in Hell.  Is light good?  Yes.  Then it is not in Hell.  Is hope good?  Yes.  Then it is not in Hell.  Is true friendship good?  Yes.  Then it is not in Hell.  There the damned hate one another.  There the poor sufferers curse forever those who led them into sin.  Hence, persons should try to bring back to a good life everyone they may have led into sin or scandalized by bad example.

414 Q. What is Purgatory?  A. Purgatory is the state in which those suffer for a time who die guilty of venial sins, or without having satisfied for the punishment due to their sins.

“Punishment”—­that is, temporal punishment, already explained to you.  After the general judgment there will be Heaven and Hell, but no Purgatory, for there will be no men living or dying upon the earth in its present condition to go there.  All will be dead and judged and sent to their final abodes.  Those in Purgatory are the friends of God; and knowing Him as they do now, they would not go into His holy presence with the slightest stain upon their souls; still they are anxious for their Purgatory to be ended that they may be with God.  They suffer, we are told, the same pains of sense as the damned; but they suffer willingly, for they know that it is making them more pleasing to God, and that one day it will all be over and He will receive them into Heaven.  Their salvation is sure, and that thought makes them happy.  If, therefore, you believe any of your friends are in Purgatory, you should help them all you can, and try by your prayers and good works to shorten their time of suffering.  They will help you—­though they cannot help