152. The Resurrection of the Dead

 “I Believe In…The Resurrection of the Dead”

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 152

Ave Maria series

152  Why do we believe in the resurrection of the dead?

We believe in the resurrection of the dead because Christ rose from the dead, lives forever, and causes us to share in this eternal life.  [988-991]

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary at Lourdes, France.  The Resurrection of Jesus. …..152

When someone dies, his body is buried or cremated.  Nevertheless, we believe that there is a life after death for that person.  In his Resurrection, Jesus showed that he is Lord over death; his word is trustworthy: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live”:  (John 11:25b).  103-108

How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain…If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.  But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.   (1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 19-20)

[988-991]

"I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"

988 The Christian Creed - the profession of our faith in God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and in God's creative, saving, and sanctifying action - culminates in the proclamation of the resurrection of the dead on the last day and in life everlasting. —Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

989 We firmly believe, and hence we hope that, just as Christ is truly risen from the dead and lives for ever, so after death the righteous will live for ever with the risen Christ and he will raise them up on the last day.(John 6:39-40)⁵³⁴  Our resurrection, like his own, will be the work of the Most Holy Trinity: --CCC

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit who dwells in you.(Romans 8:11; compare 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Philippians 3:10-11)⁵³⁵ –CCC

990 The term "flesh" refers to man in his state of weakness and mortality. (Genesis 6:3; Psalms 56:5;  Isaiah 40:6)⁵³⁶  The "resurrection of the flesh" (the literal formulation of the Apostles' Creed) means not only that the immortal soul will live on after death, but that even our "mortal body" will come to life again.(Romans 8:11)⁵³⁷ –CCC

991 Belief in the resurrection of the dead has been an essential element of the Christian faith from its beginnings. "The confidence of Christians is the resurrection of the dead; believing this we live."( Tertullian, De res. 1,1:Patrologia Latina 2,841)⁵³⁸ –CCC

How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. . . . But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.(1 Corinthians 15:12)⁵³⁹ –CCC

JR  Rosary Basilica