Creed Article 5
Creed Article 5
Creed Article 5
ARTICLE 5: HE DESCENDED INTO HELL; ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD
To purchase the Book, or for theological inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate Quality Catholic Publications Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational 1708 Paraaque City, Philippines Telefax (02) 828-2338 Tel. (02) 828-9509 [email protected]
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
2. A CATECHISTS PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is, help me to remember that every gift I have comes from you. Expand my vision so that I can appreciate your goodness in the world around me. Jesus, our Redeemer, you are the path to the treasures of my heart and soul. Strengthen my commitment to be a catechist and deepen my capacity to share your truth with those in my care. Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all life and energy flows from you. Illuminate my thoughts and intensify my desire to grow ever deeper in my faith. I lift up my prayer to you, God Father, Son, and Spiritin humility and hope. Amen.
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
3. WHAT ARE THE THREE PARTS OF THE 5TH ARTICLE? The 5TH Article of the Creed is divided into Three Parts: 1. The Descent Into The Dead 2. The Resurrection of Christ
3. The Sequence of
Events After the Resurrection
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
4. THE DESCENT INTO THE DEAD: Why did Christ descend into the dead?
After his death, the body of Jesus was reposed into the tomb; while his human soul, united to his divine person, went down among the dead, or the netherworld. Jesus descended in the netherworld to liberate the souls of the just from the power of death, and to open for them the gate of Paradise.
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
5. THE DESCENT INTO THE DEAD: Why did the souls of the just had to wait for the resurrection of Christ? They had to wait in the netherworld because the gates of Heaven were closed after the Original Sin. After the resurrection of Christ, the souls go, in accordance to their merits, either to Hell, Purgatory, or Paradise.
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
6. THE DESCENT INTO THE DEAD: What is the difference between the Netherworld and Hell?
The Netherworld (also called Sheol in Hebrew, Hades in Greek, and Inferi in Latin), is the place where the souls of the just awaited for Christs resurrection. Hell (also called Gehenna in Hebrew, Tartarus in Greek, and Infernum in Latin), is the place of eternal damnation for the demons and the wicked souls. Did Jesus descend into the Netherworld or into Hell? Since the Greek text of the Apostles Creed uses the word katotata (those below), and the Latin inferos (the spirits of the underworld), the literal translation should be: He descended into the dead. The Limbo, the alleged place where the souls of the unbaptized waited for the Redeemer, was never defined as a dogma.
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
7. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST: When did Jesus rise from the dead?
Jesus rose from the death on Sunday morning, three days after his death. As the angels announced unto the women : He is not here, but he has been raised (Luke 24:6). The resurrection of Christ is the crowning truth of our faith, as St. Paul proclaimed: If Christ has not been raised, our faith is useless (1 Corinthians 15:14).
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
8. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST: What is the difference between resuscitation and resurrection?
Resuscitation is the reunion of the soul with the mortal body, like the rising of Lazarus (cf. John 11:43-44). Resurrection is the reunion of the souls with the glorified body, like the case of Jesus, whose body was so transfigured that Magdalene did not recognize him (cf. John 20:15).
Jesus rose from the death early on Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw the empty and reported to the Apostles. Peter and John arrived at the tomb, they found the empty tomb, and the burial clothes. They were confused and left the scene, but Mary Magdalene remained behind (cf. John 20:1-10).
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Noli me Tangere
Mary Magdalene turned around and saw Jesus, but did not recognize him, thinking he was the gardener.
Then Jesus said: Touch me not [in Latin: Noli me tangere], for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and announce unto them (cf. John 20:11-18).
On Sunday afternoon two disciples were going from Jerusalem to Emmaus, when suddenly Jesus appeared and walked with them, but they did not recognize him. As they approached Emmaus, the two disciples invited the Lord to dine with them, and they recognized him at the breaking of bread (cf. Luke 24:13-35).
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
St. Thomas is called the Doubting Apostle because he did not believe the report that Jesus had risen from the death. One week later, Jesus appeared again and asked Thomas to probe his fingers into his wounded hands and side. Thomas exclaimed: My Lord and my God! (cf. John 20:26-29).
Before the ascension, Jesus asked Peter three times, Do you love me?, in reparation for his three denials. Then, he reconfirmed Peter as the Head of his Church (cf. John 21:15-19).
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate