The Sixth Article

"He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty"

COMPENDIUM

This article teaches us that, forty days after His Resurrection, and in the presence of His Disciples, Jesus Christ ascended by Himself into heaven, and, being equal to the Father in glory as God, He was exalted above all Angels and all Saints as man, and made Lord of all things.

He remained on earth forty days after His Resurrection before ascending into heaven, in order to prove, by various appearances, that He was really risen, and to instruct and confirm the Apostles still more in the verities of the faith.

He ascended into heaven:

1. To take possession of the Kingdom, which He had merited by His Death.
2. To prepare a place of glory for us, and to be our Mediator and Advocate with the Father.
3. To send the Holy Ghost upon His Apostles.

Jesus Christ is said to have ascended into heaven, and His most Holy Mother is said to have been assumed, because He, as Man-God, ascended by His own power and merit into heaven, whereas His Mother, being created, although the worthiest of all creatures, went up to heaven through the power and merit of God.

The word "sitteth" means the peaceful possession which Jesus holds of His glory, and the words "at the right hand of God the Father Almighty" signify that Jesus has a place of honor far above all creatures.

CATECHISM

120. What are we taught in the Sixth Article: He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty?

The Sixth Article of the Creed teaches us that Jesus Christ, forty days after His Resurrection, ascended of Himself into heaven in the sight of His Apostles; and that, while as God He was equal to His Father in glory, as man He has been raised above all the Angels and Saints, and constituted Lord of all things.

121. Why did Jesus Christ remain forty days on earth after His Resurrection before ascending into heaven?

After His Resurrection, Jesus Christ remained forty days on earth before ascending into heaven to prove, by several apparitions, that He was truly risen, to instruct the Apostles still further, and to confirm them in the truths of faith.

122. Why did Jesus Christ ascend into heaven?

Jesus Christ ascended into heaven 1. to take possession of the Kingdom He had merited by His death, 2. to prepare the place of our glory, and to be our Mediator and Advocate with the Father, 3. to send the Holy Ghost upon His Apostles.

123. Why is it said of Jesus Christ that He ascended, and of His Most Holy Mother that she was assumed, into heaven?

It is said of Jesus Christ that He ascended into heaven, and of His most Holy Mother that she was assumed, because, Jesus Christ, being Man-God, ascended into heaven by His own power; but His Mother, being a creature, even though the greatest of all creatures, was taken up into heaven by the power of God.

124. Explain the words "sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty."

The word "sitteth" signifies the peaceful possession which Jesus Christ has of His glory; and the words "at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty" denote that He has a place of honor above all creatures.