One time I was shown hell, whether asleep in a dream or in prayer I forget but it went like this. I was flying along, kind of gliding in a kind of night. But it was not quite a night, it was kind of lit up by a kind of ghastly glow, a kind of awful twilight. Gliding like a bird I began to descend over two large towers, kind of gateways. I landed in a kind of shallow grave in greyish mud or sludge Were I contemplated my fate, for I knew at once with a terrible certainty that I was lying in hell. The first thought that struck me was that this was Eternal. There was no Mercy, no hope; that it would go on forever and ever. The door had closed forever. But next and this was the terror of it; that is was just so very, very,very boring. There was never going to be any change. Nothing to look forward to . Nothing to plan for. Nothing to work towards. No excitement. No laughter. Just dull, dull unending greyness forever and ever. And that was the horror of it. No pain, no demons, no flames. Just grey sludge. I have looked at what the mystics say of flames and screams and demons. But I never saw anything like this, at least in my hell. But I did see one mystic who saw something very similar. https://aleteia.org/2019/10/15/st-teresa-of-avilas-haunting-vision-of-hell/ I found myself, as I thought, plunged right into Hell. I realized that it was the Lord’s will that I should see the place which the devils had prepared for me there and which I had merited for my sins. This happened in the briefest space of time, but, even if I were to live for many years, I believe it would be impossible for me to forget it. The entrance, I thought, resembled a very long, narrow passage, like a furnace, very low, dark and closely confined; the ground seemed to be full of water which looked like filthy, evil-smelling mud, and in it were many wicked-looking reptiles. At the end there was a hollow place scooped out of a wall, like a cupboard, and it was here that I found myself in close confinement. But the sight of all this was pleasant by comparison with what I felt there … My feelings, I think, could not possibly be exaggerated, nor can anyone understand them. I felt a fire within my soul the nature of which I am utterly incapable of describing … I had been put in this place which looked like a hole in the wall, and those very walls, so terrible to the sight, bore down upon me and completely stifled me. There was no light and everything was in the blackest darkness. ' T]his vision was one of the most signal favors which the Lord has bestowed upon me: it has been of the greatest benefit to me, both in taking from me all fear of the tribulations and disappointments of this life and also in strengthening me to suffer them and to give thanks to the Lord, Who, as I now believe, has delivered me from such terrible and never-ending torments. It also inspired me with fervent impulses for the good of souls: for I reallybelieve that, to deliver a single one of them from such dreadful tortures, I wouldwillingly die many deaths. After all, if we see anyone on earth who is especially dearto us suffering great trial or pain, our very nature seems to move us to compassion,and if his sufferings are severe they oppress us too. St Teresa of Avila
