Before rising, He descended into hell

Last updated on: March 26, 2016 at 11:15 am by Father Pablo Migone

Before rising, He descended into hell 2016-03-26T11:15:47-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us, according to Saint Paul’s teaching in the Letter to the Ephesians, that Jesus “descended into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens.” In the Apostles’ Creed we profess that Jesus descended into hell and that on the third day He rose again from the dead.

Since apostolic times, the Church has taught that Jesus descended into the realm of the dead before his resurrection. Jesus, like all before him, experienced death and joined others in the realm of the dead, but Jesus descended there as a Savior, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there. (CCC 632).

The Catechism further explains that Scripture calls the abode of the dead where Christ descended to “hell,” Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek. There in Abraham’s bosom, all the dead, evil and righteous together, awaited the redeemer. Jesus descended into Abraham’s bosom to deliver the just who had gone before him. (CCC 633)

An ancient homily for Holy Saturday teaches that today, on Holy Saturday, “a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. . . He has gone to search for Adam, our first father, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow Adam in his bonds and Eve, captive with him – He who is both their God and the son of Eve. . . ‘I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. . . I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead.'”

The scene of Jesus breaking the gates of hell and calling the righteous to eternal life with God has been depicted by artists throughout the centuries. None however is as famous as the Anastasis in the Chora Church in Istanbul, Turkey. Originally built in the 5th century outside the walls of Constantinople, the beautiful monastery has been filled with mosaics and frescoes throughout the centuries. This depiction of Jesus’ descent into the netherworld was painted between 1315 and 1321. Like other depictions of this scene, it portrays Jesus Christ in the middle standing over the broken gates of hell. Dressed in white, he reaches out to Adam and Eve who are being raised from their graves. John the Baptist stands behind Adam, close to Jesus since he announced his coming. David, Solomon, and other kings of Israel stand behind John. On the other side behind Eve, stand Abel and other righteous people from the Old Testament.

In the Anastasis of the Chora Church, Jesus is dressed luminously, recalling his transfiguration and resurrection. He also stands in the middle of the depiction showing great strength.

Today, as we await the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we pray for all those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. May they, and all who sleep in Christ, find light, happiness, and peace.

Previous Post

March 25, 2016

What child is this, laid to rest on Mary's lap?

Next Post

March 29, 2016 On November 17th, I celebrated Easter Mass

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Absalom was David's son who led a rebellion against him.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE