I recall that the Catholic position on hell is that it's self-inflicted for the most part. Sin is defined by the RCC as a willful turning away from the grace of God. Now, God loves us and wants us to repent and come back to Him but it's our own pride that keeps us away and feeling empty and thus, suffering. We could apparently repent and be forgiven at any time as long as it was sincere.
If I were to use an example, it would be Dante's depiction of Lucifer who is encased in ice in the lowest circle of hell and is eternally frantically beating his wings to try and escape. The irony is that it's the winds caused by his flapping wings that continually renews the ice that holds him and prevents him from leaving. If he had simply let go of his pride and repented, he would have been forgiven long ago.
Although, maybe the above was just a product of the second Vatican reform. It's not that I believe any of it, but I like to at least be aware of what the other side preaches.
If I were to use an example, it would be Dante's depiction of Lucifer who is encased in ice in the lowest circle of hell and is eternally frantically beating his wings to try and escape. The irony is that it's the winds caused by his flapping wings that continually renews the ice that holds him and prevents him from leaving. If he had simply let go of his pride and repented, he would have been forgiven long ago.
Although, maybe the above was just a product of the second Vatican reform. It's not that I believe any of it, but I like to at least be aware of what the other side preaches.
