I believe in the resurrection of the body 22 SIGNORELLI, Luca Resurrection of the Flesh 1499-1502 Fresco Chapel of San Brizio, Duomo, Orvieto I believe in the resurrection of the body

Compendium of the Catechism 203. What is meant by the “resurrection of the body”? 990 This means that the definitive state of man will not be one in which his spiritual soul is separated from his body. Even our mortal bodies will one day come to life again.

Introduction Christians firmly believe and hope that, in the same way as Christ rose and lives forever, so the just —after death— shall live forever with Christ, and Christ shall raise them up on the last day. “(…) how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith.(…) But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Cor 15:12-14,20) The Creed ends proclaiming “the resurrection of the body” at the end of time, and “life everlasting”. Christians firmly believe and hope that, in the same way as Christ rose and lives forever, so the just —after death— shall live forever with Christ, and Christ shall raise them up on the last day. Since the beginning, belief in the resurrection of the flesh has been an essential part of the Christian faith. As early as the III century, Tertullian wrote: “The resurrection of the dead is the hope of Christians; we are Christians because we believe in it”. And St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “But if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith.(…) But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Cor 15:12-14,20) SIGNORELLI, Luca Resurrection of the Flesh (detail) 1499-1502 Fresco Chapel of San Brizio, Duomo, Orvieto

Main ideas

1. All men have to die Everybody knows he has to die some day, and the experience of death supports this belief. We have to bear in mind that we only live and die once. Reincarnation after death is a fantasy and an error. Death is the separation of soul and body: the end of life on earth. A few hours after death the body begins to decompose. Everybody knows he has to die some day, and the experience of death supports this belief. Many people die every day, and they are often close to us: relatives, friends, old and young, even infants. We have to bear in mind that we only live and die once. Reincarnation after death is a fantasy and an error. Death is the separation of soul and body: the end of life on earth. A few hours after death the body begins to decompose. BALDUNG GRIEN, Hans Three Ages of the Woman and the Death 1510 Oil on limewood,48 x 32,5 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

2. Death, a consequence of sin Death entered the world because of sin. By nature man is mortal, but God bestowed on him the privilege of escaping from death, provided that man was faithful to God. Therefore, death was contrary to God’s designs, it entered the world as a consequence of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. Based on Sacred Scripture, the Church teaches that death entered the world because of sin. By nature man is mortal, but God bestowed on him the privilege of escaping from death, provided that man was faithful to God. Therefore, death was contrary to God’s designs, it entered the world as a consequence of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. PACHER, Michael St Wolfgang Altarpiece: Resurrection of Lazar 1479-81 Wood, 173 x 140,5 cm Parish Church, Sankt Wolfgang

3. Death was transformed by Christ Christian death has a positive meaning. Christ’s obedience transformed the curse of death into a blessing. By His death Jesus conquered death, opening to all men the possibility of salvation: “Lord, for Your faithful people life is changed, not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven.” Thanks to Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning. Jesus, the Son of God, also suffered death, which is proper to our human condition, but He accepted it with an act of total and free obedience to God’s will. This obedience transformed the curse of death into a blessing. By His death Jesus conquered death, opening to all men the possibility of salvation. The Christian vision of death is well expressed in the following words of the Liturgy of the Church: “Lord, for Your faithful people life is changed, not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven.” UNKNOWN MASTER, Flemish Resurrection c. 1400 Tempera on wood, 33,1 x 21,2 cm Museum Mayer van den Bergh, Antwerp

4. After death The soul, being immortal, cannot die. At the moment of death, the soul separates from the body and appears before God to be judged. Accordingly, the soul goes to heaven to enter the glory of God —or to purgatory for purification— or goes to hell if man has died in mortal sin, that is, without God’s grace. After death, the final destination cannot be rectified, and new merits cannot be acquired. The judgment that takes place right after death is called particular judgment. Jesus Christ is the judge. The soul, being immortal, cannot die. At the moment of death, the soul separates from the body and appears before God to be judged. Accordingly, the soul goes to heaven to enter the glory of God —or to purgatory for purification— or goes to hell if man has died in mortal sin, that is, without God’s grace. God is merciful, but also just; hence He either rewards or punishes according to what man has done during his life on earth. After death, the final destination cannot be rectified, and new merits cannot be acquired. The judgment that takes place right after death is called particular judgment. Jesus Christ is the judge. POURBUS, Pieter Last Judgement 1551 Oil on oak panel, 228,5 x 181 cm Groeninge Museum, Bruges

5. The dead shall rise at the end of time. Christians firmly believe that, in the same way as Christ rose, we likewise will rise for the final judgment. Our body, transformed, will rise to be united with the soul and never die again. All men shall rise, but not all will have the same destiny: good men will rise to eternal glory, and bad men to eternal condemnation. Christians firmly believe that, in the same way as Christ rose, we likewise will rise for the final judgment. Our body, transformed, will rise to be united with the soul and never die again. All men shall rise, but not all will have the same destiny: good men will rise to eternal glory, and bad men to eternal condemnation. BACKER, Jacob de The Last Judgement c. 1580 Oil on panel, 140 x 105 cm (centre panel), 140 x 52 cm (wings) O.-L. Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp

6. Preparing for the moment of death. In the Gospel, our Lord tells us about these tremendous truths of life and death, to alert us to be ready when He comes to call us to give account before the judgment. And since death comes like a thief –without warning—we’d better be ready. But, how? Begging often for forgiveness from Our Lord. Making a daily examination of conscience. Confessing our sins often. In the Gospel, our Lord tells us about these tremendous truths of life and death, to alert us to be ready when He comes to call us to give account before the judgment. And since death comes like a thief –without warning—we’d better be ready. But, how? * Begging often for forgiveness from Our Lord. When we realize that we have done something wrong, we should make an act of contrition, or at least say an aspiration with a truly contrite heart. * Making a daily examination of conscience. Examination of conscience is like a law suit in which we judge ourselves to see whether we are doing God’s will. It is enough to remember briefly what we have done during the day. When we recall what we have done well, we thank God; when we realize that we have done wrong, we ask God to pardon us out of love, and we make a firm resolution for the next day. This examination of conscience will help us to be ready always to meet Jesus Christ and to improve our Christian life. * Confessing our sins often. In the sacrament of Penance we ask God to forgive us and to pardon our sins. A good confession is the best way to prepare ourselves for God’s judgment. If we die after a good confession and in God’s grace, the judgment will make Him very happy and willing to reward us, and it will also be a cause of great joy for us, having attained heaven with God’s mercy. DE VALDES LEAL, Juan Allegory of Death: In Ictu Oculi 1664 Hospital de la Caridad (Seville)

Resolutions for Christian life

Resolutions to move forward Try to make an examination of conscience before going to bed, reviewing what we have done well and what we have done wrong during the day; make an act of contrition and propose resolutions for the next day. Think that God is going to judge us at the end of our life, and that He is merciful but also just.