A while back I was worked up about some gross wrong which got me thinking about whether it was legitimate to rejoice in the thought of wrongdoers suffering in Hell. Not specific individuals, to be sure, but classes of individuals, say, Islamic terrorists. Of course we are asked to pray for our enemies, and Jesus wills that all men be saved, and forgiveness is essential to Christianity. There is a sense in which we (or, at least, I) get so fixated on the mercy and lovingkindness of God that I feel guilty to get angry with the wicked. But let's face it, those condemned to Hell are justly condemned. Scripture says not to take vengeance not because vengeance is not merited but because God is the only one who can mete it out justly, so when all is said and done and the mercy is exhausted and the graces are spurned, if God does it, can we not rejoice in it? We see the martyrs in Revelation crying out for vengeance, after all.
What I didn't know until more recently is that some saints claim by private revelation (if I am not mistaken) that the angels and saints actually do rejoice when a soul goes to Hell on account of the justice being done. I had never heard this before but I find it intriguing. Naturally being private revelation we can't put too much stock in it but maybe I shouldn't feel quite so guilty when my sense of indignation and justice overflows and I want God to execute vengeance if the persons do not repent (which of course is my first prayer).
This reminds me of the classic question, can we be happy in heaven if our loved ones are not there? I know I have loved ones who have died I was very close to but who seem to have a doubtful destiny. One answer I've come up with is that we will have such a clear appreciation for the true nature of sin and what these people have done (however trifling it seemed while we were on earth) that our affection will turn to repugnance and we will actually want them to be condemned and we will agree with the judgment. (Of course, wanting someone to be condemned then, with perfect knowledge and pure intentions, is very different from wanting on earth someone to be condemned. We should not cultivate here on earth a desire for individuals to be condemned.)
Perhaps it's OK to rejoice in the condemnation of the wicked as long as it remains in the abstract and not in singling out individuals. Any thoughts?
