Saints Who Saw Hell: And Other Catholic Witnesses to the Fate of the Damned

by Paul Thigpen

Gnawing worms, unquenchable fire, utter darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth. With these fearful words, Jesus warned that hell is real … and that we could end up there.

Since the Early Church, Catholic saints and other visionaries have reported horrific scenes of eternal punishment. Dozens of saints throughout history have described the terrors of hell, and relayed horror of being separated from God for eternity so that we may see for ourselves and repent.

In Saints Who Saw Hell, you’ll find …
The scriptural witness to the reality of hell, including the warnings of Jesus, the prophets, and the Apostles;
Scenes from the second-century Apocalypse of Peter, the oldest surviving Christian vision of hell;
Ancient reports collected by Pope St. Gregory the Great;
Medieval accounts from St. Bede, the voyage of St. Brendan, St. Hildegard of Bingen, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Frances of Rome.
Witnesses to hell from the time of the Catholic Reformation, such as St. Teresa of Ávila, Blessed Maria de Agreda, and Blessed Richard of St. Anne;
Visions from later centuries, such as those of St. Veronica Giuliani, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, St. John Bosco, the children of Fatima, and St. Faustina Kowalska;
… and other accounts from those who insist they have witnessed the fate of the damned.
The scenes in these pages, varying in detail and source, all testify to one harrowing truth:
Hell is the final guarantee that what we do really matters.

For us here on earth, a peak at the grisly tortures of hell is sometimes what we really need to redouble our efforts at achieving the glorious sweetness of heaven.
 

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Christianity, Nonfiction, Faith, Theology

216 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2019

About the author

Paul Thigpen, Ph.D., is the editor of TAN Books. An award-winning journalist and best-selling author, he has published forty-two books. His work has been translated into twelve languages and circulated worldwide.

Reviews

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live in fear of judgment day, and have a great horror of hell. Day by day remind yourself, you are going to die. Hour by hour, keep watch over all you do, remembering the Divine gaze is upon you. - The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4 (paraphrase)

Memento Mori!
So far, I have enjoyed reading Paul Thigpen, PhD's, work. I love his writing style and appreciate his immense knowledge he has of various saints. This book is especially important Christians who contemplate on his or her actions or wonder about the afterlife.

It is important to remind yourself while reading this book about the Church's official teaching on hell. Hell is eternal separation from God. God is all good and merciful and does not harm his children. The images in this book are images to help convey a deeper meaning.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scared straight!

This was a great, humbling read. A very in-your-face reminder to take advantage of the Sacraments and live intentionally while we can!! Pain and suffering in this world is fleeting, because eternity is a long time...

[Sasha Ruggiero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to remove a star for the author including at the end one of his own fictional character’s (Thomas Travis) accounts of hell from a previous fictional novel he’d written; as I felt that this was rather blasphemously placed amongst the recounts of saints. Other than this particular issue I really loved this compilation of those who have recounted their experiences visiting hell. While depressing at times I felt that this was well wet and extremely informative. I think it’s definitely interesting to note how incredibly similar the accounts of hell are!

[Cassandra Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was torn between 4 and 5 stars. This teetering was not based on a literary context but from the spiritual
compunction experienced while reading this book. I wept for the souls in hell. I love that it ends with one of the Examine tools from St Ignatius that reminds us not to become so fixated on hell and our fear it but to turn to God and ask for the mercy we don’t deserve. That I could see myself in nearly every sinner depicted in their just suffering was moving, terrifying, and still the important reminder that God wants to give us forgiveness. We must do our part and until that judgement day that will come, He persists in desire to welcome us Home.

[Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scariest book I've ever read. Thank you Lord for the gift of confession!



Saints Who Saw Hell.....5 Stars.

[Mrs j m Holland]

Certainly thought provoking ! Excellent read

It's easy to live our life on earth as if death is far off, this book presents the reality of the existence of Hell, giving testimonies of people who were shown it down through the ages.
Life on Earth is short and eternity is never ending , when we can accept that Hell exists and is the worst nightmare imaginable, we can then reach out in faith to God and his Intimate Mercy.
This book has made me want to pray and love Jesus and Our Heavenly Mother Mary so much more.

[Gene Steinbacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I reached the middle of the book I would have given it 5 stars. The first half was very thought provoking and scary. The second half was quite repetitive. The closer I got to the end the more I wanted it to be over. Have said that I do not regret reading it. I bookmarked a large portion of the first half and plan to go through these bookmarks to remind myself of the evils that await us if we give in to the worldly self-indulgences.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

What better place to have a serious, objective warning on Hell than the words of Saints? Very precious book. The introduction gives very good reasoning on why we need to learn about Hell. Then follows many saints accounts of seeing Hell. Great book to read for meditation.

[Mary Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

The subject of hell is very uncomfortable and very unpopular even to believers. However, the author provides Biblical proof of hell’s existence and the powerful testimony of beloved Catholic Saints to compel us to reject sin.

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must book to read to every Catholic. Suppose you're struggling with habitual sins or not really fully repented your life. This book may help. It seriously got me thinking and turn my ways.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well written and researched, but so tough to read.

[cellomerl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as an audiobook. The first two chapters on the theology of Hell were very good, then it went sort of downhill. The rest of the book is excerpts from other sources, of the visions of various saints, which is fine, except that it got a bit repetitive and I found the narrator distracting. He did a great job with all the voices and accents and he really threw his heart and talent into it, but instead of being a chilling account, the whole thing kind of came across like a children’s book. The thought of everlasting Hell should freak a Catholic right to the bones, but this quickly fell away from fascinating to just mildly interesting. Most of the time I was only half listening. Perhaps this was more to do with how it was produced, but it seemed kind of campy and overacted. So to be fair, my low rating may have more to do with format than content. I probably would have enjoyed reading it on paper so that my imagination could run the show.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I don't view Hell as others do... and know I have little or no certainty or belief in Hell. And also, I can't deconflict hell's tortures of sinners which Christians (practicing turning the other cheek) love to tell others. So, a stoic will tell you even Sisyphus could endure pushing a bolder up hill for eternity. And so, why oh why do sinner have to pay with torture for eternity. I thought (was told) just being out of God's graces (in Hell where God is not) is pain enough (at least for Lucifer -- most powerful ex-angel of God). To my rational mind the stories "People" tell about places they (may tell us they've seen in tours) does not square with Christ's teaching of the Golden rule; love others as oneself. QED

[Joe Besserfan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Thigpen's "Saints Who Saw Hell" might be the scariest book I've ever read. Some of the segments were more effective than others but the overall impact of the book is a strong one. I didn't want to go to hell before and I definitely don't want anything to do with that place after reading this book. This book is a great wake-up call for all of us.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most terrifying book I’ve ever read. The book recounts the saints visions of hell all of which will shake you to the core. Does one really need to know these horrifying details of hell?

You decide.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone should read this book & ponder its contents so you can decide how you want to live your life. If this book doesn't put the fear of hell as a real place in you, I don't know what will.

[Grant F · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star book except for the fact that the author promoted his fictional novel in the last chapter. I'm leaving it as 5 stars because you can choose to skip the chapter (as I did) but regardless it's frustrating. The rest of the book is phenomenal and I would highly recommend it

[Jack Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting, full of plenty of stuff I had no idea about. A little more scripture than I was anticipating and more taking it at face value than interpreting much. Delving into the history and nuance of the language used on some passages was the most interesting.

[Cyndi Ries · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there’s a way to make me a better person and want to repent all my evils, it’s by reading this book! Terrifying visions of hell: gnawing worms, unquenchable fire, utter darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth proves hell is real! This was my Corpus Christi book club selection.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true reminder of the results of our bad choices here on Earth without repentance.

[Coleman Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always good to get some terrifying meditations on hell from the holy mystics of the past

[Eduard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trudna do czytania książka.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Everyone needs to read this book.

[Darcey Leis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this book doesn’t make you believe in eternal damnation…..

[Aeron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of worms in hell.

[Daniel Gil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative book and the choices for the stories picked are great. Is detailed and is a variety of interesting parts of Hell.

[Daniel Zielinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrifying.

[Darrin Podeschi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobering to say the least.

A compelling picture of one of two destinations of which we all choose, one or the other. A merciful reminder to choose Jesus in every moment and especially in the hour of death.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖍️ If there is any question about the existence of Hell, this book puts that doubt to rest – yes, there is Hell. These recorded true experiences are frightening with words that I cannot express, and I have tried here in my review. One quote from one of the saint’s visions states that (paraphrased) from time to time, God allows wicked people the wicked leadership they deserve. If that does not hold true in the current state of the world . . . !

📕 Read from my private library. Book purchased from TAN Books.

🕊️●▬●✿🕊️✿●▬●🕊️

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. What an eye opener. Life is short and what awaits us afterwards, whatever road we choose (we all have a free will), we need to understand that it’s for eternity.
This book has changed my outlook in life. I will no longer take His mercy for granted.

Highly recommend it whether you believe in hell or not.