The Sales Director approached the white board and quickly scribbled, in capital letters, the word ASSUME. Then he proceeded to break the word into three parts thusly….ASS-U-ME. To the novice sales trainees, this was amusing and somewhat mysterious. The Sales Director then advised them to remember and embrace the ASS-U-ME concept that he would teach them. Simply put, when you assume the customer knows something about your product or company, that assumption would probably foil the intentions of both the customer and the sales person.  Assume nothing was the message conveyed to the trainees. A potential customer may and may not have knowledge of sales person’s company or product and, if the sales person assumes a certain knowledge not possessed by the client, then he would be depriving both the customer and himself of the opportunity to learn more. Many sales have been lost due to an assumption made by the sales person.

During recent conversations with friends and acquaintances about the issue of human existence after death, some friends denied that any life existed after death, while many others assumed that they would assuredly enter heaven at the end of earthly existence. My atheist friends rejected God completely, as well as the existence of an afterlife. For atheists, bodily death ended everything. On the other hand, Christians believe in a life after death. Many of whom generally assume that, “A good and loving God would never condemn any person to an eternal hell. Even if one was placed in hell, God would eventually relent and free the individual from the excruciating pain of hell.” Others assumed that that they would have time to repent of their sins and thus be granted salvation. Still others theorized that there existed any number of reasons that God would never commit anyone to eternal punishment. But is there any reason to accept any of these assumptions? Unfortunately, none exists. Are many individuals making the ASS-U-ME mistake?

 Let us see what Jesus and His saints say about life after death, heaven, and hell.

• Jesus uses the word hell (Hades or Gehenna) 11 times in His discourses with the apostles and others. Jesus makes it very clear that hell does exist….there is no room for doubt in Jesus’ references to the existence of hell. Both Matthew and Luke mentioned Jesus’ statements concerning the relatively few who will join Him in paradise. Jesus notes that the entrance into heaven is through a narrow gate, while hell can be reached via a broad highway and a wide gate.  Matthew quotes Jesus warning His disciples, “Enter through the narrowgate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”  Luke similarly quotes Jesus thusly, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” Considering the warnings of Jesus regarding hell, it would be foolish for anyone, particularly Catholics, to assume that hell does not exist or that they are assured of entering heaven.
• Saint Gregory clearly states, “Many attain to faith, but few to the heavenly kingdom.” Saint Anselm declares, “There are few who are saved.” Saint Augustine states even more clearly, “Therefore, few are saved in comparison to those who are damned.” The most terrifying, however, is Saint Jerome. At the end of his life, in the presence of his disciples, he spoke these dreadful words: “Out of one hundred thousand people whose lives have always been bad, you will find barely one who is worthy of indulgence.”
•  Francisco Suarez (1548-1617), the brilliant theologian and priest, noted that leading Catholic thinkers, including St. Cajetan and St. Bellermine, were convinced that the greater number of Catholic adults were damned. Suarez summarized his view thusly, “, “The most common sentiment which is held is that, among Christians, there are more damned souls than predestined souls.”
• St. John Chrysostom (347-407) exclaiming with tears in his eyes, “I do not believe that many priests are saved; I believe the contrary, that the number of those who are damned is greater.”

One could continue with predictions from any number of saints throughout history about the fear that more souls will be damned than will be saved. However, it is sufficient to understand that both heaven and hell do exist and that it appears that more people will enter hell than heaven. This is very sobering thought….hell does exist and the souls of many people, including Catholics, are in hell.

Fortunately there is some very good news. God is very forgiving and anxious that people accept his graces and help in getting to heaven, thus avoiding hell. St. Faustina, the patron of the Divine Mercy devotion, quoted Jesus as saying, “Every Soul believing and trusting in my Mercy will receive it.” Again Jesus emphasizes His Mercy to St. Faustina encouraging man not to fear, “Let no soul fear to draw near to me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.” However, although Jesus clearly and forcefully proclaims His great Mercy, He also cautions man,“He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of my Justice.” (Jesus to St. Faustina in “Dairy.”)

People should not assume anything regarding their disposition after this earthly life ends, but rather they must repent and seek God’s unfathomable mercy.

 Recommended Reading – “ Diary” of St. Faustina. A very inspirational spiritual book.