Contemplative Haven

Apr 11 2009

The Harrowing of Hell

Published by gabrielle at 3:00 am under Holy Week, Triduum

“Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him.”

You can read more about Christ’s descent to the dead on the Vatican website.

# terryon 11 Apr 2009 at 11:10 pm

When I read the Catechism I become ever more assured that the Church knows what it is talking about.

The proclamation of the redemptive act of Jesus to the dead is both physical and metaphysical. It happens outside of time as a physicist might describe it and within time as we would expect.

I just love the concept of Jesus proclaiming redemption to those that have gone before him and hoped for this very thing.

Every year Easter takes on more significance. I know that I can’t even begin to appreciate this gift.
# gabrielleon 19 Apr 2009 at 1:21 am

Terry, I was thinking, on Holy Saturday, about the fact that no one could enter heaven until Jesus had died to redeem mankind, and for the first time I found myself wondering if God experienced loneliness in heaven for all that period of time, however time is experienced in eternity.