The notion that hell contains goodness might come as a shock, especially when attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas, a pillar of Christian thought. But that's exactly what he believed. Of course, he wasn't implying that hell is some kind of twisted paradise. Rather, Aquinas saw that even in a place of ultimate separation from God, His goodness is never entirely absent.

Let's explore this complex concept with the help of the "Prince of Philosophy" himself. But first, who was this brilliant theologian?

Aquinas: the brain behind the faith

Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century superstar, is basically the MVP of Church Doctors.

Church Doctors are theological heavyweights. These saints weren't just good Christians, they were brilliant minds whose writings formed the backbone of how the Church explains itself. Imagine them as the philosophers and theologians who built the foundation of Christian thought.

This guy didn't just believe stuff, he wanted to understand it. He was like a translator, taking super complex ideas about God and faith and making them clear using logic and philosophy. Aquinas was basically walking around with a brain full of Bible verses and philosophical arguments. His writings are still super influential even today!

Goodness in hell

As mentioned above, Aquinas had some pretty interesting ideas about hell. He believed that there is goodness in it. He covers this topic in his Summa Theologica, which is like a giant question-and-answer style instruction manual for Christian theology.

In question 69 of the Summa he writes:

"…those who will be thrust into hell will not be free from all good."

Sound weird? Hold on, hear him out! In order to understand what Aquinas is talking about here you have to first get a handle on how he thinks of evil.

Aquinas saw evil as a "privation" of good, meaning it's not some separate force (like the "dark side" of Star Wars lore) but rather a simple absence of God's good will. Kind of like how a shadow depends on the existence of light. Just as there's no way for anything to be 100% shadow, there's no way anyone could ever become 100% evil — not even Satan himself.

Even Satan is, in some respects, "good"

Let's consider Satan, the king of the underworld, the epitome of evil. According to Aquinas, even he can't fully escape some inherent goodness. Let's break it down.

• Power: Though misused, his power and influence over other fallen angels indicates an underlying God-given strength and charisma that remains intact.
• Intelligence: His reputation for cunning suggests an intellect that, while corrupted, is still dangerous. Though he's not the brightest bulb anymore because of his fall, he's still clever enough to successfully tempt fallen, gullible humans who struggle to grasp spiritual truths.
• Existence: Aquinas believed existence itself is good. So another aspect of goodness that Satan has is that, well… he is still around. Satan and all his buddies play a role in God's story of salvation.

The role of demons in God's saving plan

Adam and Eve's "felix culpa" (happy fault) of giving in to the serpent led to the need for Jesus to save us. Even today, Satan and his minions are allowed to fight God-powered saints like St. Padre Pio and St. Anthony of the Desert — as well as ordinary saints-in-the-making like you and me. As we grow stronger in Christ, our demons become our punching bags. So, their existence serves a good function.

Aquinas's perspective is empowering. In his way of seeing things, evil isn't a separate, overwhelming heavy breathing force-to-be-reckoned-with that opposes good (as Hollywood likes to imagine it). Instead, evil is weak, chained, utterly broken and dependent. It can't even exist on its own.

God doesn't do "take-backs"

The very next sentence in question 69 is another head exploder. Aquinas says that God lets the damned keep any rewards that they've earned for good works:

"…those who are in hell can receive the reward of their goods, in so far as their past goods avail for the mitigation of their punishment."

I like this idea too because it lines up well with God's faithfulness, mercy and love, attributes which are so often praised in scripture:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22–23

Why this matters to us today

Aquinas's perspective offers a unique lens for understanding hell. Evil, as terrifying as it may seem, is ultimately weak and dependent on the good it seeks to corrupt. This knowledge can be a powerful source of comfort for those struggling with the concept of eternal punishment.

And here's where it gets even more interesting: Aquinas' ideas about hell highlight the enduring mercy of God. Even in a place of ultimate separation, His goodness is still faintly present. This serves as a reminder of the unwavering love God has for His creation, even those who turn their backs on Him. It's a perspective that offers hope amidst the complexities of faith.

Hell anxieties…

As a Benedictine, Aquinas is not really my thing. I'm encroaching on Dominican turf — I admit it!

However, I do like the Aquinas quotes that I've selected above and I often think about them when I begin to get overwhelmed by "hell worries."

Hell clearly exists and it's freaky. But God's not a dictator in the sky, watching us and waiting for us to slip up. Scripture reminds us over and over that he is generous and kind — even to those who hate him.

Another saint I turn to for help when I get nervous about hell is Thérèse of Lisieux (also a Doctor of the Church):

I assure you that God is much better than you believe. He is content with a glance, a sigh of love. As for me, I find perfection very easy to practice because I have understood it is a matter of taking hold of Jesus by His Heart.

How great is it that these two saints — St. Therese and St. Thomas Aquinas — are both considered church doctors! Just another example of how the heart is equally important as the head when it comes to God.