Part I, Chapter VIII. The Redemption

93. What is meant by the Redemption?
By the Redemption is meant that Jesus Christ made atonement to God for our sins and merited for us the grace by which, from being enemies of God, we can become his adopted children (John i, 12).
94. How did Christ redeem us?
Christ redeemed us by his sufferings and by his death on the cross.
95. How did Christ die?
On Good Friday Christ was crucified and died nailed to the cross.
96. Who condemned Christ to death?
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, condemned Christ to death at the desire of the Jews.
97. What lessons do the sufferings and death of Christ teach us?
The sufferings and death of Christ teach us the wickedness of sin, the necessity of penance and the greatness of God's love for us.
98. How do we show our belief in the Redemption?
We show our belief in the Redemption by making upon ourselves the sign of the Cross.
99. Where did Christ's soul go after his death?
After Christ's death his soul descended into hell: this was not the hell of the damned, but a place or state of rest called limbo.
100. Who were in limbo?
The souls of the just who died before Christ were in limbo, awaiting the redemption.
101. Why were the souls of the just detained in limbo?
The souls of the just were detained in limbo, because heaven was shut against mankind by the sin of Adam, and was opened only by the death of Christ.
102. Why did Christ descend into limbo?
Christ descended into limbo to announce to the just the joyful news of their redemption (I Pet. iii,19).
103. Where was Christ's body, while his soul was in limbo?
While Christ's soul was in limbo, his body was in the tomb.
104. Did Christ rise from the dead?
On Easter Sunday, the third day after his death, Christ arose, body and soul, glorious and triumphant, from the dead.
105. What does the resurrection of Christ prove?
By raising Himself from the dead Christ proved that He is truly God (John ii, 19-22).
106. How long did Christ remain on earth after his resurrection?
Christ remained on earth forty days after his resurrection, to show that He was truly risen from the dead and to instruct his apostles.
107. When did Christ ascend into heaven?
On Ascension Thursday, forty days after his resurrection, Christ ascended from Mount Olivet, body and soul, into heaven.
108. Where is Christ in heaven?
In heaven Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
109. What do we mean when we say that Christ sits at the right hand of God?
We mean that while Christ as God is equal to the father in all things, as man He is in the highest place in heaven, next to God in power and glory.
110. What do we mean when we say: From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead?
We mean that on the last day Christ will come again to judge all men according to their works.