St. Teresa of Avila once wrote that Hell exists because of God's mercy. In other words, souls who are closed off to God's love would actually suffer less in hell than in heaven. Unfortunately, eternal suffering is the lot of souls in hell none the less.
God doesn't want this for us. God wants us to be at eternal peace. We have free will to accept His love. Hell is not meant to scare us, but to warn us that we have a choice.
In a homily delivered March 27, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI stated, "Jesus came to tell
us that He wants us all in heaven and that hell - of which so little is said in
our time - exists and is eternal for those who close their hearts to His
love."
The warning about hell comes in the context of love. In fact, it is because
of God's love that He warns us about the possibility of eternal separation from
Him. God is, "above all, love," said the Pope. "If He hates sin it is because
He has an infinite love for all human beings." The Lord's aim, said Benedict,
was "to save a soul and to reveal that salvation is only to be found in the love
of God."
While it is true that hell is rarely spoken of even from the pulpit nowadays,
some bishops have been moved to warn about hell when motivated by love - by an
overwhelming concern for the salvation of those entrusted to their care.
Msgr. Charles Pope
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