The Eleventh Article

"the resurrection of the body"

COMPENDIUM

This article teaches us that all men will rise again, and that every soul will resume the body which it had in this world. The resurrection of the dead will be through the power of God Almighty, to whom nothing is impossible. It will take place at the end of the world, and then will follow the Last Judgement. It is God's will that the body should rise with the soul, because, since the soul does well or ill while united with the body, it is fitting that both should be punished or rewarded together.

There will be a great difference between the bodies of the elect and those of the damned, because only the bodes of the former will, like the risen Jesus, possess the attributes of glorious bodies. These attributes are:

1. Impassibility, which will prevent their being subject to any evil or pain, nor will they need food or rest, or anything else;
2. Brightness, whereby they will shine like the sun and the stars;
3. Agility, enabling them to pass in an instant and without fatigue from one place to another, and from heaven to earth;
4. Immateriality, so that they can go through any solid substance without hindrance, as Jesus Christ did after His Resurrection.

The bodies of the damned will not have these attributes, but will bear the terrible brand of eternal reprobation.

CATECHISM

239. What are we taught by the Eleventh Article: the resurrection of the body?

The Eleventh Article of the Creed teaches us that all men will rise again, every soul resuming the body it had in this life.

240. How will the resurrection of the dead be accomplished?

The resurrection of the dead will be accomplished by the virtue of the Omnipotent God, to whom nothing is impossible.

241. When will the resurrection of the dead take place?

The resurrection of the dead shall take place at the end of the world, and shall be followed by the General Judgment.

242. Why does God will the resurrection of the body?

God wills the resurrection of the body in order that the soul, having done good or evil while united with the body, may also be rewarded or punished along with it.

243. Will all rise in the same way?

No, there will be a vast difference between the bodies of the elect and the bodies of the damned; because only the bodies of the elect shall have, like the risen Christ, the endowments of glorified bodies.

244. What are the endowments that are to adorn the bodies of the elect?

The endowments that shall adorn the bodies of the elect are: 1. impassibility, by which they can never again be subject to evil, nor to any kind of pain, nor to need of food, of rest or the like; 2. brightness, by which they shall shine as the sun and as so many stars; 3. agility, by which they shall be able to pass in a moment and without fatigue from one place to another and from earth to heaven; 4. subtlety, by which without hindrance they shall be able to penetrate any body, as did Jesus Christ when risen from the dead.

245. And the bodies of the damned, what of them?

The bodies of the damned shall be destitute of all the endowments of the glorified bodies of the blessed, and shall bear upon them the appalling mark of eternal reprobation.