1.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED: ARTICLE 5

The book is a complete explanation of
the 12 Articles of the Apostles’ Creed.

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 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
sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com

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2. A CATECHIST’S 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 Spirit—in humility
and hope. Amen.
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 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

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 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.
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 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.
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 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 Christ’s 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.
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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).
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 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).

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9. THE RESURRECTION
OF CHRIST:
What is the Holy
Shroud of Turin?
 It is the linen cloth that
wrapped the dead body of
Jesus, and it is now
preserved at the Cathedral
of Turin, Italy.
 The image of Christ is
impressed like a picture
on a film, and so far no
scientific explanation could
be given on the process.
 The probable solution is
that the resurrection was a
burst of unknown
energy that impressed
the features of his body on
the shroud.

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 10. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AFTER THE RESURRECTION:
The Resurrection of Christ
 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).

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 11. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AFTER THE RESURRECTION:
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).

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12. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AFTER THE RESURRECTION:
The Disciples of Emmaus
 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).

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13. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AFTER THE RESURRECTION:
The Doubting Thomas
 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).

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 14. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AFTER THE RESURRECTION:
Do you love me?
 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).

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