The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 90 – Christ Descended into Hell (2026)
Date: March 31, 2026
Readings: CCC 631–637 (Article 5: “He Descended into Hell. On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead”)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz dives into the profound mystery of Christ’s descent into hell—an often misunderstood phrase found in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. Drawing from paragraphs 631–637 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he explains what it means for Jesus to have “descended into hell,” its significance for both salvation history and our understanding of redemption, and how God’s love literally knows no bounds. Fr. Mike situates this descent within Christ’s mission and highlights the hope and universality of God’s salvific love for all people, even those who died before Christ’s resurrection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Does it Mean: “He Descended into Hell?”

• Clarification of Terms (04:00–06:30)
  • The word “hell” here refers not to the place of eternal damnation, but to Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek)—the realm of the dead where all souls, both righteous and unrighteous, went before Jesus opened the gates of heaven.
  • All were deprived of the vision of God, but “their experience of death would be different” (08:00). Some, like Lazarus in Jesus’ parable, were at rest in the “bosom of Abraham” while others were in torment.

“We say [in the Creed] he descended into hell… what do we mean by this? He truly experienced death, and as he descended to the realm of the dead, he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the good news to the spirits imprisoned there.”
—Fr. Mike Schmitz (04:20)

2. The Purpose and Scope of Christ’s Descent

• Redemption for All the Just (07:00–10:00)
  • Jesus did not descend to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him—those righteous souls of the Old Covenant.
• The Fulfillment of Jesus’s Mission (11:00–14:00)
  • Christ’s descent into hell is “the last phase of Jesus's Messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time, but vast in its real significance.”
  • This action brought the gospel message of salvation to completion, making “all who are saved… sharers in the redemption”—spanning all people of all times, not only those who lived after Christ.

“This is the last phase of Jesus' Messianic mission... 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.”
—CCC, highlighted by Fr. Mike (13:20)

3. Scriptural and Liturgical Foundations

• Scriptural References (05:00–06:30)
  • References to 1 Peter 3:18-19 and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus illustrate these realities.
• Quoting the Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday (14:00–16:30)
  • Fr. Mike shares a moving ancient homily, read each Holy Saturday, which portrays Jesus searching for Adam “as for a lost sheep… desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
• Liturgical Imagery (16:10)
  • Fr. Mike describes a powerful icon depicting Jesus grasping Adam and Eve by the wrists, lifting them from their graves, symbolizing his victory over death.

4. Personal and Universal Application

• Implications for Us (16:30–18:00)
  • Christ’s descent reveals that there’s “no place, no depth to which he will not go” to save us; God did not create us “to be prisoners in hell.”
  • The action of Christ serves as a model for how God continually comes to deliver us: through the Incarnation, sacraments, grace, and now, the promise of eternal life.
• Hope and Gratitude (18:00–End)
  • Fr. Mike closes with encouragement to walk in right relationship with God, assuring listeners of God’s relentless love and his ongoing prayers for the audience.

“He did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead.”
—Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday, quoted by Fr. Mike (16:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Christ’s Mission:

  “God goes to them to deliver them. Just like how God comes to us to deliver us in the Incarnation… 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.”
  —Fr. Mike Schmitz (15:00)

• On the Universality of Redemption:

  “It’s not just for those who came after Christ… He came for them as well [those who died before]. 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.”
  —Fr. Mike Schmitz (13:55)

• Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday:

  “A great silence reigns on earth… 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… I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead.”
  —Read by Fr. Mike Schmitz (16:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Explanation of “Hell” in the Creed: 04:00–06:30
• Jesus’s Mission to the Just (Rescuing the Righteous): 07:00–10:00
• The Fulfillment of the Messianic Mission: 11:00–14:00
• Ancient Homily and Liturgical Reflection: 14:00–17:00
• Universal Application and Closing Prayer: 18:00–End

Engaging Takeaways

• Christ’s descent into hell was not about rescuing the damned, but liberating the just who awaited redemption.
• The event showcases the totality and inclusivity of God’s plan, reaching even those who lived and died before Christ.
• This doctrine underlines that “there is no place, no depth to which [Christ] will not go” (10:50) to bring about salvation.
• For listeners, it is a powerful reassurance that God’s love and deliverance extend to everyone—past, present, and future.

Final Reflection

Fr. Mike’s tone throughout is assuring, enthusiastic, and deeply pastoral, emphasizing gratitude, hope, and God’s inexhaustible love. The episode leaves the listener with a sense of awe for the fullness of Christ’s mission and an invitation to trust in God’s readiness to redeem, wherever we find ourselves on our journey.