On the Thoughts of the Reprobate in Hell.
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on myself; with the help of God’s grace, I can shape my own destiny in that respect.
Folly of men who in spite of this do not wish to save their souls, and to escape hell.
Now, my dear brethren, I ask: is it true, or rather is it possible that, although we can, we do not wish to be happy, and that too eternally? This is what puzzled the man who was rapt up in spirit by the angel into heaven, where the indescribable joys of the elect were shown to him: O my God! he exclaimed, what a happy life! Who can come to this place? Whoever wishes, answered the angel. What! replied the man; whoever wishes? And who would not wish to attain to such happiness? Oh, answered the angel, many, very many, nay, the greater number of men do not wish to have this happiness. Then he brought the man down to hell, where he saw to his great terror and horror the torments suffered by the damned. Alas! he asked again; who comes to this place? and again the angel answered: whoever wishes. What! is it possible for a man to be so foolish as to desire to be hurled into such a frightful den of torments? Yes; most people in the world are guilty of that folly. So it is, my dear brethren. He who wishes shall go to heaven; that is, he who orders his life so as to receive the promised reward from God. And he who wishes shall be hurled into hell; that is, all those who do not avoid sin, or who after having committed sin do not do penance while they have time. Sinner, see the folly of which you are guilty; you do not wish to be happy, and therefore you will not be so; your desire is to go to hell, and therefore hell will be your everlasting dwelling. But is it possible, I ask again, that you are so foolish and senseless? If it were in your power to order your temporal life as you wish, would you not seek to lead a life of the utmost wealth, comfort, joy, and happiness? You who think of nothing else but rest, comfort, pleasure, and self-gratification in every possible way, even in sin and vice? And yet you do not find in those things the happiness you seek in them, and you will never find it; you will never attain what you are so eager to possess. Ah, why then do you not wish and seek to be eternally happy in heaven? for that you can be if you will! But, O madness and folly! this is what you do not wish; this is what you absolutely refuse! You may tell me the contrary a thousand times, and my answer to you will be that you are not in earnest; you do not wish for heaven; you continue on in the old habits of sin; you still keep your ill-gotten goods; you refuse to give up your unlawful love, your hatred and enmity; you are