1. THE APOSTLES’ CREED: ARTICLES 11 & 12 The book is a complete explanation of the 12 Articles of the Apostles’ Creed. Creed.
ARTICLES 11 & 12: I BELIEVE THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY, AND LIFE EVERLASTING To purchase the Book, or for theological inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author: AUTHOR
Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION
1st Edition, Manila, May 19, 2013
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate Quality Catholic Publications Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational 1708 Parañaque City, Philippines Telefax (02) 828-2338 Tel. (02) 828-9509 828-950 9
[email protected]
2. A CATECHIST’S PRAYER Loving Father, 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, Jesus, our Redeemer Rede emer,, 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, 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— God — Father, Father, Son, and Spirit S pirit— —in humility and hope. Amen.
3. WHAT ARE THE SEVEN PARTS OF THE 11TH & 12th ARTICLES? The 11th and 12th Articles of the Creed are divided into seven parts:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Eschato tollogy Death Res Re surr rre ect ctio ion n Judgment Purgatory Hell Paradise
4. ESCHATOLOGY: What is Eschatology?
Eschatology is the science dealing with the last six realities, namely: Death, Resurrection, Judgment, Judgment , Hell, Purgatory Purgator y, and Paradise. We study Eschatology to achieve ac hieve holiness, as the Bible says: “Remember “Remember your last things, and you shall never sin again” (Sirach or Ecclesiastes 7:39).
5. ESCHATOLOGY: Life after death
6. DEATH: What is Death?
Death is the separation of the soul from the body. body. After death, the mortal body goes to the tomb, waiting for the resurrection of the bodies on the last day; while the soul, which is immortal, enters the afterlife to face the divine judgment.
7. DEATH: Should we Christians be afraid of death?
We must not fear death, death , because it is the necessary passage from this valley of tears to the eternal life in Heaven; we should rather be afraid of dying in the state of mortal sin. However, However, even e ven we also experience the pain of loss. loss. St. Augustine was not afraid of death, but when St. Monica died, he experienced the deep grief of losing such a loving mother.
8. DEATH: What is the Carpe diem?
The Carpe diem, translated as “seize the day”,, is the attitude of day” hedonistic persons who have no faith in the afterlife, and try to enjoy the physical pleasures of life as much as possible, one day at the time. The epitome of the Carpe Diem attitude is Bacchus,, the god of wine Bacchus and intoxication, who was celebrated with orgies and debauchery
9. DEATH: What is the Memento mori ?
The Memento mori, Remember translated as “ as “Remember that you must die,” die,” is the attitude of meditating daily on our death, in order to live a holy life. The maxim originated from God’s warning to Adam after the Original Sin: “You “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). St. Francis of Assisi avoided sin by meditating daily on his upcoming death.
10. RESURRECTION: What is the Resurrection?
The resurrection is the act by which God gives eternal life to our mortal bodies and reunites them with their souls. The resurrection is different from resuscitation, which is the act by which the mortal body is reunited with the soul. Such was the case of Lazarus, who was not resurrected, but was resuscitated.
11. RESURRECTION: When will the Resurrection happen?
The resurrection will take place at the end of times, times, after the second coming of Christ and before the Final Judgment. All men will rise from death at the end of the world: “those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation” condemnation” (John 5:28-29).
12. RESURRECTION: Does cremation affect the resurrection of the body?
The manner of burying a body is uninfluential as far as the resurrection is concerned. Whether the bodies are cremated, or buried in the soil, or lost at sea: eventually, eventually, they all decompose into dust. The burial of the body in the tomb is the preferable manner for us Christians because it resembles the burial of Jesus. However, for serious reasons, the Church allows cremation, cremation, provided it is done with the due respect for the body and with faith in the resurrection.
13. JUDGMENT: What is the Judgment?
T he Judgment is the reckoning of our life that every human being must undergo after his death. The Scriptures tell us that there are two judgments: the Particular Judgment immediately after death, and the Universal Judgment at the end of time.
14. JUDGMENT: The Particular and the Universal Judgment THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT is the reckoning that takes place immediately after our death, assigning the souls to Paradise, Purgatory, or Hell.
Lazarus and the Rich Man
THE UNIVERSAL JUDGMENT is the reckoning that takes place at the end of the world, assigning the risen persons to Paradise or to Hell.
15. PURGATORY: What is Purgatory?
Purgatory is the place where the souls of the just are purified from their temporal punishment before entering Paradise. Paradise and Hell will last forever, while Purgatory will end on the Day of Judgment. The term Purgatory comes from the Latin word purgare, which means “to cleanse. c leanse.””
16. PURGATORY: What is the biblical proof of the existence of Purgatory?
The proof of the existence of Purgatory is in the Books of Maccabees (2 (2 Maccabees 12:43-44). 12:43-44). Judas Maccabeus made a collection to offer prayers for the souls of the soldiers who died in battle wearing the amulets of idols. They could not enter Paradise, since they died in the state of sin; nor go to Hell, because they were fighting for Yahweh. Therefore, they went into a place of purification, purification, or Purgatory.
17. PURGATORY: Why don’t the Protestant Bibles have the Books of Maccabees?
In 1534, Martin Luther Lu ther,, the initiator of the Protestantism, removed from the Bible the Deuterocanonicals (the Old Testament books written in Greek), which include inclu de the two Books of Maccabees. He convinced his followers that in the Old Testament Testament only the th e books written in Hebrew were inspired by God. The Deuterocanonicals, which Luther called Apocryphals, Apocryphals, were written in Greek because they were composed after the Exile in Babylon (538 BC), when the cultural language among the Jews was no longer Hebrew but Greek. As a matter of fact, the whole New Testament Testament is written in Greek. The Deuterocanonicals were accepted by all Christians for 1500 years, until they were taken away by Luther Luth er,, whose hidden agenda was to eliminate the proof on the existence of Purgatory, Purgatory, which was clearly stated st ated in the Book of Maccabees. Maccabees.
18. PURGATORY: How can we help the souls in Purgatory?
We can help the th e souls in Purgatory to expiate their temporal punishment by offering prayers and Masses. The best time to pray for them is on November 2, All Souls Day. We apply indulgences to the souls in Purgatory by mode of intercession, meaning, that we intercede on behalf of the souls, hoping that God will grant our request.
19. HELL: What is Hell?
Hell is the place of eternal punishment and suffering, suffering, where the demons and the damned burn with unquenchable fire. The existence and the eternity of Hell was declared by Jesus, when he said: “Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).
20. HELL: What are the pains of Hell?
The pains, or the fire of Hell, consist in the eternal separation from God. God. The agony is so horrific that Jesus compares it to being eternally eaten alive from within by worms and burned from without by fire (Mark 9:48). The pains are atrocious because of the absence of any hope. hope. On earth, we may endure the worst tortures by hoping to die; but in Hell the souls of the damned are eternally destined to suffer.
21. PARADISE: What is Paradise?
Paradise is the place of eternal and perfect communion of love with God. Only those who died in the state of grace shall enter Paradise (Matthew 5:8). Paradise, Paradise, from the Greek parade Greek paradeisos isos,, means “enclosed “enclosed garden.” garden.” The Bible represents Paradise as a heavenly garden of eternal happiness.
22. PARADISE: Can we demonstrate the existence of Paradise?
The existence and the eternity of Paradise was declared by Jesus, who said: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:35). St. John described Paradise as a wedding feast between God and his people, taking place in a heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2).
23. PARADISE: What is the beatific vision?
The beatific vision is the contemplation of God in his heavenly glory. We cannot imagine the bliss and the splendor of Paradise, lest we die of yearning. What we know is that we will be in the presence of God, and contemplate his face forever. forever.
24. PARADISE: Why does the Creed end with Amen?
The Creed ends with Amen, which means: “Yes, “Yes, I believe. believe.” Thus, the Amen confirms its first words of the Creed: “I believe.” By proclaiming the Amen we profess our personal commitment to announce the teaching of Christ till the end of times.
