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The Essentials of the Catholic Faith,Pt 1,Apostles’ Creed:“He Ascended-Heaven-Seated.Right-God-”
TheRealPresence.org ^ | 2002 | Pocket Catholic Catechism

Posted on 10/18/2009 6:50:10 PM PDT by Salvation

Part One:  The Apostles’ Creed

6.  

He Ascended into Heaven, and is Seated at the Right Hand of God, The Father Almighty”


Table of Contents    



St. Matthias Jesus Christ arose from the dead and remained upon earth in visible form for forty days. On the fortieth day, He ascended into heaven. As described by St. Luke, Jesus had just finished telling His disciples they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit:
When He had said these things, while they looked on, He was raised up. And a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they were beholding Him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments. They said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven will come as you have seen Him going up to heaven” (Acts 1:9-11).

Christ’s ascension into heaven was a historical event. He actually did leave the earth and was physically seen to ascend into the heavens. However, the “heavens” to which he went were not the “corporeal heavens” of sun, moon, and stars. When St. Paul says that “He ascended above the heavens” (Ephesians 4:10), this meant not only above the stellar regions but even above all “spiritual heavens.” Christ’s place in heaven is above all the angels and saints. He ascended even to the Throne of God the Father. He is now at the Father’s “right hand in the heavenly places. He is above all principality and power, and virtue and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21).

The expression “right hand” is not to be taken literally but symbolically, when we speak of God. Christ as God is said to sit at the right hand of the Father because He is equal with the Father. As man, He is seated at the Father’s “right hand” as being closest to God in the possession of the highest perfection possible for a created nature. This is what the devil craved when he said, “I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars…I will be like the most high” (Isaiah 14:13-14). But Christ alone rose to that height. This is what He meant when He applied to Himself the messianic prophecy of David: “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand’”(Psalm 109:1).

Why the Ascension?  The Church tells us that Christ ascended into heaven, because heaven was due to Him according to His Divine nature. It is natural for something to return to the place of its origin. Christ drew His origin from God who is above all. No doubt the saints are also in heaven, but they did not reach there as Christ did. He ascended by His own power, whereas the saints are taken to heaven by the power of Christ.

Moreover, heaven was due to Christ as the fruit of His victory. He was sent by the Father into the world in order to overcome the devil, and He overcame the prince of this world. That is why He merited to be exalted above all things, and promises us a share in His exaltation, provided that like Him – and with His grace – we too overcome the evil spirit. “To him that shall overcome,” He tells us, “I will give to sit with me on my throne; as also I have overcome, and am set down with my Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

Finally, Christ’s ascension was the reward of His humility. Since there was no one more humble than Christ, He deserved to be more elevated than anyone else. Although He was God, He chose to become man. And though He was the Lord of all, He chose to become a servant and become obedient unto death, even to death on the Cross. He therefore merited to be raised to the heights of heaven. Why? Because humility is the road to exaltation.

Lessons of the Ascension.  Every mystery of the faith is meant to teach us something. The Ascension is no exception.

Because of Christ’s ascension, our faith in Him as our Leader and Guide is strengthened. During His mortal stay on earth He taught us how we should live, so that, like Him, we too might reach heaven. He told us, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). We shall see Him in heavenly glory provided we have been willing to suffer like Him, even in rejection and being ignored.

Our Lord’s ascension should strengthen our trust in His power of interceding for us with the eternal Father. This is what we mean by Christ’s everlasting priesthood, “whereby He is able to save forever those who come to God by Him. He is always living to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25).

The Ascension of Christ is a powerful motive for loving Him. We were made by God out of nothing, but we are destined to possess the Living God in our human, bodily form, if only we learn to despise temporal things. St. Paul warns us: “If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). The cost of giving up earthly pleasures may seem to be high. But it is more than worth the effort as we look up to Christ waiting for us to join Him in our eternal home.

The Gospel Book Enthroned


Copyright © 2002 Inter Mirifica
Pocket Catholic Catechism


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholiclist; creeds
Continuing the series on the Apostles' Creed.
1 posted on 10/18/2009 6:50:11 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: All

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed: “He Ascended into Heaven, and is Seated at the Right Hand of God, The Father Almighty”

Complete title.


2 posted on 10/18/2009 6:51:57 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...
Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.

3 posted on 10/18/2009 6:53:16 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All

THE CREDO

The Apostles Creed The Nicene Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and of all that is, seen and unseen.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation,
he came down from heaven:
He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered died and was buried.
On the third day he rose again. On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge
the living and the dead
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the
Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy
catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one
baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

4 posted on 10/18/2009 6:54:03 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All

The new Apostles’ Creed:

believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son,
our Lord,
who was conceived
by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again
from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.


5 posted on 10/18/2009 6:54:48 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
 

The new Nicene Creed per the USCCB website:

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake
he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds
from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
And one, holy, catholic
and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection
of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.


6 posted on 10/18/2009 6:55:36 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith (Introduction)
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed, The Basic Profession of Faith
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part 1: The Apostles’ Creed, “I Believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth"
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part 1: The Apostles’ Creed: “And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles' Creed: “ Who Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary”

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed: “Suffered Under Pontius Pilate, was Crucified, Died, and was Buried”
The Esstentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostle's Creed: He Descended into Hell. On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed: “He Ascended into Heaven, and is Seated at the Right Hand of God, The Father Almighty”

7 posted on 10/18/2009 6:58:17 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
“ He Ascended into Heaven, and is Seated at the Right Hand of God, The Father Almighty” >>>

I know some progressive nuns who refuse to say “He” or “His” in prayer substituting the pronouns with “God”. They don't say man or men either, they just leave those words out of their prayers.

8 posted on 10/18/2009 7:47:35 PM PDT by Coleus (Abortion, Euthanasia & FOCA - - don't Obama and the Democrats just kill ya!)
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To: Salvation

The Nicene Creed is beautiful, especially in the KJV. The Apostle’s Creed sounds like the Cliff’s Note version.


9 posted on 10/18/2009 7:50:09 PM PDT by Cincinna (TIME TO REBUILD * PALIN * JINDAL * CANTOR 2012)
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To: Coleus

So what would they say for the word ‘Father’? LOL!


10 posted on 10/18/2009 8:10:35 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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