Day 90: Christ Descended into Hell (2025)

Mon Mar 31 2025

Have you ever said the words from the Creed at Mass, “he descended into hell” and wondered, “Really? Jesus did? Why?” The Catechism shares the secrets of this line from the Creed and shows us how Jesus’ descent into hell “brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment.” Fr. Mike makes it clear to us that Jesus did not come to save only the righteous who happened to be alive during his time here on earth, but he came to save all those righteous men and women who came before him and would come after him. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 631-637.

Summary

Summary of The Catechism in a Year Podcast Episode: Day 90 - "Christ Descended into Hell"

Podcast Information:

Title: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Publisher: Ascension
Episode: Day 90: Christ Descended into Hell
Release Date: March 31, 2025
Duration: 15-20 minutes

Introduction

In Day 90 of Ascension’s The Catechism in a Year podcast series, Fr. Mike Schmitz delves into Article Five of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, specifically examining paragraphs 631 to 637. This episode, titled "Christ Descended into Hell," explores the profound theological implications of Jesus Christ's descent into the realm of the dead, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of this pivotal event in Christian doctrine.

Opening Remarks and Acknowledgments

Fr. Mike begins the episode with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the listeners' support through prayers and financial contributions. He emphasizes that these donations enable Ascension to produce free, authentic Catholic content aimed at helping individuals grow closer to God and understand the Catholic faith comprehensively.

“We make authentically Catholic podcasts and videos and other digital content to help people know the Catholic faith and grow closer to God every day.” (00:00)

Overview of Day 90: Paragraphs 631-637

Fr. Mike outlines that on Day 90, listeners will explore paragraphs 631 to 637 of the Catechism, which discuss Christ's descent into hell. He reiterates the foundational belief that Jesus truly experienced death, possessing both body and soul, yet remained free from corruption.

“It is day 90. We’re reading paragraphs 631 to 637. It is article five. And if you’re following along with your reading plan in following along in any catechism, you can see Article 5 is he descended into hell.” (01:15)

Christ’s Experience of Death

The discussion begins with affirming that Jesus experienced death fully, including the separation of body and soul. However, unlike ordinary death, Christ’s soul was preserved, aligning with the Catechism’s assertion that He remained incorrupt.

“We hear stories every day about how those shows have transformed people's lives... you are a significant part of that.” (00:30)

The Descent as Savior

Fr. Mike explains that Jesus descended into hell not merely as a passive recipient of death but actively as the Savior. His mission was to proclaim the good news to the spirits imprisoned there, as referenced in 1 Peter 3:18-19.

“He descended there as Savior, proclaiming the good news to the spirits imprisoned there.” (05:20)

Understanding "Hell" and the Abode of the Dead

The term "hell" in this context refers to the abode of the dead, known in Hebrew as Sheol and in Greek as Hades. This place is characterized by the deprivation of the vision of God, a state applicable to all the dead—both righteous and evil—while they await the Redeemer.

“Such is the case for all the dead, whether evil or righteous, while they await the Redeemer.” (07:45)

Distinction Among the Souls in Hell

Fr. Mike clarifies that not all souls in hell share the same fate. He references the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to illustrate that righteous souls experience peace and rest in Abraham's bosom, while others face torment. Jesus' descent specifically aimed to deliver the just who awaited Him.

“The rich man goes to a place of torment, whereas Lazarus goes to rest in the bosom of Abraham.” (09:10)

The Purpose of Christ’s Descent

Emphasizing that Christ did not descend to damn the wicked or eradicate hell, Fr. Mike underscores that His mission was to free the righteous souls who had gone before Him. This act completed His Messianic mission, extending salvation to all who are saved across all times and places.

“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.” (14:30)

Theological Implications

The descent into hell signifies the complete fulfillment of the gospel message. It demonstrates God's infinite love and the boundless extent of Jesus' redemptive mission. Christ's actions ensure that all who are saved, regardless of when they lived, share in redemption.

“The descent into hell brings the gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment.” (17:50)

Practical Reflections and Prayer

Fr. Mike invites listeners to internalize the profound truth of Christ's descent into hell, encouraging them to live righteously and maintain a right relationship with God. He leads a guided prayer, expressing gratitude for Christ’s boundless love and His mission to rescue humanity.

“We thank you for the fact that his love knows no bounds, that even the abode of the dead is not out of bounds.” (19:30)

Conclusion

Concluding the episode, Fr. Mike reiterates the significance of Jesus' descent into hell as a testament to God's unwavering love and the comprehensive scope of divine redemption. He encourages listeners to continue their journey through the Catechism, deepening their understanding of the Catholic faith.

“He came to rescue us. Again. He comes to us to save us, just like he always does.” (25:15)

Key Takeaways

Authentic Experience of Death: Jesus truly experienced death, including the separation of body and soul, yet remained incorrupt.
Mission as Savior: Christ's descent into hell was an active mission to proclaim the good news to the imprisoned spirits.
Nature of Hell: The abode of the dead is a state of separation from God, applicable to all souls awaiting the Redeemer, but experiences within vary between the righteous and the wicked.
Purpose of Descent: The descent aimed to deliver the just who awaited Christ, completing His redemptive mission across all times and places.
Theological Significance: This act underscores the completeness of the gospel message and God's limitless love for humanity.

Notable Quotes

Fr. Mike Schmitz: “We make authentically Catholic podcasts and videos and other digital content to help people know the Catholic faith and grow closer to God every day.” (00:00)
Fr. Mike Schmitz: “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.” (14:30)
Fr. Mike Schmitz: “The descent into hell brings the gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment.” (17:50)
Fr. Mike Schmitz: “He came to rescue us. Again. He comes to us to save us, just like he always does.” (25:15)

Final Thoughts

Day 90 of The Catechism in a Year offers a profound exploration of a central tenet of Catholic faith—the descent of Christ into hell. Fr. Mike Schmitz masterfully elucidates the theological nuances, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of how this event fits into the broader narrative of salvation and divine love. This episode not only reinforces foundational beliefs but also invites personal reflection on the depths of Christ’s sacrifice and the boundless nature of His love.

For those embarking on or continuing their journey through the Catechism, this episode serves as an essential guide to comprehending the intricate tapestry of Catholic doctrine and its relevance to personal faith and salvation.

Transcript

Father Mike Schmitz (0:00)

Before we get started, I just wanted to offer a quick thank you to all those who have supported the Catechism in a Year or the Bible in a Year podcast. We hear stories every day about how those shows have transformed people's lives and because of your prayers and financial gifts, you are a significant part of that. You might ask a question though. The question is, what does Ascension do with these financial gifts? Great question. The answer is we make authentically Catholic podcasts and videos and other digital content to help people know the Catholic faith and grow closer to God every day. And we do it all for free. If you found this podcast to be helpful in your life and would like to help us continue making free Catholic content we can post online, please consider making a financial contribution, an ongoing financial contribution, by going to ascensionpress.com support. That's ascensionpress.com support. Thank you and God bless. Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz and you're listening to the Catechism in a Year podcast where we encourage encounter God's plan of sheer goodness for us revealed in Scripture and passed down to the tradition of the Catholic faith. The Catechism in a Year is brought to you by ascension. In 365 days, we'll read through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, discovering our identity and God's family as we journey together toward our heavenly home. It is day 90. That means you've been doing this for three months. I mean, give or take. There are some months that have 31, but you know, some that have 28. So we're reading paragraphs 631, 637. As always, I'm using the Ascension edition of the Catechism, which includes the Foundations of Faith approach. You can follow along with any recent version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Also, you can download your own catechism into your reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com ciy and lastly, you can click follow or subscribe in your podcast app for daily updates and daily notifications as we get started. Just thank you so much for all those who have supported the production of this podcast with your prayers, with your financial gifts. Couldn't do it without you. Thank you so much. As I said, it is day 90. We're reading paragraphs 631 to 637. It is article five. And if you're following along with your reading plan in following along in any catechism, you can see Article 5 is he descended into hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead. Remember yesterday we talked about how Christ truly died. And what is death? Death is the separation of body and soul. Now, we also maintained that even in death, Christ possessed his body to preserve it from corruption. And Christ preserved his soul. Why? Well, one is because of this article today. Paragraph one, Christ descended into hell. We're going to talk about this. And he has his mission. Now, one of the things we recognize as the first meaning given to the apostolic preaching of Jesus descent into hell, is that Jesus, like all men, experienced death in his soul. He joined the others in the realm of the dead. Now, that's one of the things we recognize, that he truly experienced death and his soul went to the abode of the dead. Now, at the same time, this is the end of paragraph 632. But he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the good news to the spirits imprisoned there. We get that from 1 Peter 3, 1819. Now that's such an incredibly important thing that Jesus truly, like we said yesterday, truly experienced death. And at the same time as he descended to the realm of the dead, he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the good news to the spirits imprisoned there. So now when we say the abode of the dead, we say hell. What do we mean? Well, in scripture, Sheol is the Hebrew term and Hades is the Greek term for the abode of the dead, because those who were there are deprived of the vision of God. That's what Catechism 6:33 says. Now, eternal hell. Right? Is this permanent deprivation of the vision of God, permanent separation from God? Now this is important to understand when we're talking about the abode of the dead prior to Christ. In 633 it says this. Yes, those who are there are deprived of the vision of God. Such is the case for all the dead, whether evil or righteous, while they await the Redeemer. Now, at the same time, that does not mean that their experience, their lot, is identical, as Jesus shares that. You remember the parable the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man, he dies and Lazarus dies, and the rich man goes to a place of torment, whereas Lazarus goes to rest in the bosom of Abraham. So there's a place of peace or place of rest. So it's not the same experience, even though the abode of the dead is that place where all the dead would go and would be deprived of the vision of God. Until what? Well, until Christ came and preached to the souls of the righteous to bring them into heaven. Now, it's very important to understand paragraph 633. Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of a temptation, but to free the just who had gone before him. Now that's going to be very, very important for us. That there are the souls of the just in the old covenant, the souls of the just prior to Jesus. And it's to them that here is Christ who announces the good news. He comes to that place of the dead, the abode of the dead, to deliver those who are righteous as their Savior. And this is just really important. This is what we're going to talk about today. And I'm so excited because this is one of those articles again, we say in the Apostles Creed every single time we pray it. We say it in the Nicene Creed. We talk about he descended into hell, he descended to the abode of the dead. When we say this, what do we mean? We get to hear about that today. So to open our hearts and to open our minds, to just be able to enter into this truth that Jesus Christ descended all the way to hell for us. He sent it all the way to hell to demonstrate that there is no place, there's no depth to which he will not go. Let's just ask the Lord to help us today as we pray. Father in heaven, we give you praise. We thank you so much for bringing us to this moment. We thank you so much for the gift of your Son. We thank you so much for the fact that his love knows no bounds, that even the abode of the dead is not out of bounds. For your love, we thank you for the fact that Christ descended into hell, that he descended to the abode of the dead to rescue the righteous. Help us to walk with righteousness. Help us to walk in right relationship with you so that we can live forever in right relationship with you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and of. Amen. As I said, it is day 90. We're reading paragraphs 6, 31, 6, 37, article 5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead. Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens. The Apostles Creed confesses in the same article, Christ's descent into hell and his resurrection from the dead on the third day. Because in his Passover, it was precisely out of the depths of death that he made life spring forth. As we pray at the Easter vigil in the Roman the one morning star who never sets. Christ, your son, who, coming back from death's domain has shed his peaceful light on humanity and lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Christ descended into Hell the frequent New Testament affirmations that Jesus was raised from the dead presuppose that the crucified one sojourned in the realm of the dead prior to his resurrection. This was the first meaning given in the apostolic preaching to Christ's descent into hell. That Jesus, like all men, experienced death and in his soul joined the others in the realm of the dead. But he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the good news to the spirits imprisoned there. Scripture calls the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down Hell Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek, because those who are there are deprived of the vision of God. Such is the case for all the dead, whether evil or righteous, while they await the Redeemer. Which does not mean that their lot is identical, as Jesus shows through the parable of the poor man Lazarus, who was received into Abraham's bosom. It is precisely these holy souls who awaited their Savior in Abraham's bosom whom Christ the Lord delivered when he descended into hell. 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. The gospel was preached even to the dead. The descent into hell brings the gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment. This is the last phase of Jesus Messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time, but vast in its real significance. The spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men, of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption. Christ went down into the depths of death so that the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. And those who hear will live. Jesus, the author of life by dying destroyed him who has the power of death, that is the devil, and delivered all those who, through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. Henceforth the risen Christ holds the keys of death and Hades, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. As an ancient homily for Holy Saturday states today, a great silence reigns on earth. A great silence and a great stillness. A great silence. Because the King is asleep, the earth trembled and is still. Because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. He has gone to search for Adam, our first Father, as for a lost sheep, greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death. He has gone to free from sorrow, Adam in his bonds and Eve captive with him. He who is both their God and the Son of Eve. I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. In brief, by the expression he descended into hell, the Apostles Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us, conquered death and the devil, who has the power of death in his human soul, united to His Divine Person, the dead. Christ went down to the realm of the dead. He opened Heaven's gates for the just who had gone before Him. Okay, as I said, Those are paragraphs 631 to 637. Just remarkable. Incredible. Again, Jesus truly experienced death. That's one of the things we're affirming. He also descended to hell. Why, as the Savior, so important that we understand this reality about the abode of the dead prior to Christ, that yes, all of the dead there would be deprived of the vision of God, and yet their experience of death would be different. One would be, you know, a sense of place, of peace, a place of rest in the bosom of Abraham. The others would be again the place of torment that hell actually is. Now, Jesus descending into hell, we just want to reaffirm this did not deliver the damned because those who have chosen against God, they cannot change their choice and they don't want to change their choice. And he did not also destroy the hell of damnation, but he freed the just who have gone before him. Now, this is crazy. Paragraph 634, it says the descent into hell brings the gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment. Now, why would that be the case? I think this is a really bold statement. The descent into hell brings the gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment. Why? Because it goes on to say, this is the last phase of Jesus Messianic mission. The last phase. Jesus didn't just come for those people who happened to be alive while he was on this earth, but this messianic mission was for them, of course. And for all those who came after Him. Of course. But this mission, this mission was for all men at all times, in all places. And so as Jesus descends to the abode of the dead, death which comes to every human being and had come to every human being who had existed prior to Jesus on this earth. This phase of his messianic mission is condensed in time, but vast in its real significance. That's the paragraph in 634 says. It says, the last line is the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption. That it's not just for those who came after Christ. That's the big question. Sometimes people ask. They say, what about everyone who existed before Jesus? What about all those people who had died before Christ could open the gates of heaven? The answer is, well, he came for them as well. When he descended into hell, when he descended to the realm of the dead, he went to rescue all of those who had chosen God. Those who had not rejected, rebelled against God, but who were unable to enter into God's presence. So what happens? God goes to them to deliver them. Think about this. This is the logic of the Incarnation. God goes to them to deliver them. Just like how God. God comes to us to deliver us in the Incarnation. What does God do? He comes to us to deliver us in the sacraments. What does God do? He comes to us to deliver us in his grace and His Holy Spirit. What does God do? He comes to us to deliver us. And to those souls held captive in the abode of the dead, what does he do? He goes to them to deliver them. And I love this ancient homily for Holy Saturday. We read it every Holy Saturday as priests and deacons, as religious sisters and brothers, and as lay people. You get to read this too, if you want. This ancient homily that talks about how here he's gone to search for Adam, our first father, as for a lost sheep. I actually, literally right now, as I'm standing here recording this, there is an image right in front of me, right above this catechism. That is an image of Jesus descending into hell. And he has two people by the wrist. He's grasping them by the wrist. It's an icon. He's grasping them by the wrist and he's lifting them out of their graves. And it is Adam and it is Eve. I am your God, who for your sake, have become your son. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. And I love this line. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. And that's just such a powerful truth that God did not create you. He did not create me to be a prisoner in hell. And so long before we can choose it, we choose Jesus. So grateful, so grateful to the Lord, who demonstrates that his love literally knows no bounds, that he comes to rescue us. Again. He comes to us to save us, just like he always does. And so we give God praise today. We pray today and we give God thanks today. I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.