Sunday, February 28, 2010

Where were souls of the just before Christ's Ressurrection? Layers of hell?

DOUBLE PRONGED QUESTION: The sin of our first parents brought death into the world and deprived human beings of the vision of God in heaven. Jesus was sent by his Father (through his Passion, Death and Resurrection) to 'open the gates of heaven' to those deserving of eternal life and remove the stain of original sin. How did the merits of the Paschal mystery apply to those who had died before under the Old Covenant? Where were their souls before Christ’s death and resurrection?

The state of those persons who have died without knowing Christ was asked by the first Christians. Paul addresses this issue quite extensively in the 15th Chapter of the First Corinthians. He emphasizes that the death and resurrection of Christ is central to our faith. Christ’s resurrection is the promise of resurrection for those who have been baptized in Christ. The question as to the status of those who had not been baptized is found in verse 29: “Otherwise, what will people accomplish by having themselves baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they having themselves baptized for them?”
The letter of 1 Peter also addresses this question. Verse 3:19 “In [the Spirit] he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,” serves as a scriptural basis to the Apostles Creed “he descended to the dead. For a additional information go to http://djcwhycatholic.blogspot.com/2009/11/jesus-descended-into-hell-what-can-that.html

Scripture, creeds and traditions of the Church address these issues using various terminology. Notions of hell as a place severely limit the ability to comprehend the experience of two distinctly different classes of souls: the damned and the just—who still carried the burden of original sin because they were before Christ's Redemption. Are these souls in one place—hell—that is composed of different levels? Are these souls in different places? Perhaps the damned are in hell and the just who died before the death and resurrection of Jesus were in another place, often referred to as limbo.

Theologians talked of the limbus patrum, apparently referring to the place where the “fathers” of the Old Testament remained after their death. That is the “prison” which 1 Peter refers to. St. Augustine, while limiting the suffering of these souls, did imply that their experience was one of pain and sorrow, if not punishment. It was more than just being deprived of the ultimate goal of all human souls--- the vision of God.

St. Thomas Aquinas is adamant that Christ descended to hell of the eternally damned. He also descended to Purgatory of those being purified of the temporal punishment due to their personal sin. Finally, Christ entered the place of those just Fathers who were deprived of heaven solely because of original sin. “Christ descended into each of the hells, but in different manner. For going down into the hell of the lost He wrought this effect, that by descending thither He put them to shame for their unbelief and wickedness: but to them who were detained in Purgatory He gave hope of attaining to glory: while upon the holy Fathers detained in hell solely on account of original sin, He shed the light of glory everlasting.”
Discussions as to the experience of the dead in the afterlife can lead to great insights into our salvation. Clearly original sin is a deciding factor in our relationship with God after we die, and this concept of sin is not at all like our everyday understanding of sin as a will full, evil act. But also, there are personal, mortal sins which bring death and eternal damnation to the soul. Christ alone has the power to free us from an afterlife of sorrow and pain and give us a vision of God.

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