74. Q. On what day was the Son of God conceived and made man? A. The Son of God was conceived and made man on Annunciation day—the day on which the Angel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the Mother of God.
75. Q. On what day was Christ born? A. Christ was born on Christmas day in a stable at Bethlehem, over nineteen hundred years ago.
76. Q. How long did Christ live on earth? A. Christ lived on earth about thirty-three years, and led a most holy life in poverty and suffering.
77. Q. Why did Christ live so long on earth? A. Christ lived so long on earth to show us the way to heaven by His teachings and example.
LESSON EIGHTH ON OUR LORD’S PASSION, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION
78. Q. What did Jesus Christ suffer? A. Jesus Christ suffered a bloody sweat, a cruel scourging, was crowned with thorns, and was crucified.
79. Q. On what day did Christ die? A. Christ died on Good Friday.
80. Q. Why do you call that day “good” on which Christ died so sorrowful a death? A. We call that day “good” on which Christ died because by His death He showed His great love for man, and purchased for him every blessing.
81. Q. Where did Christ die? A. Christ died on Mount Calvary.
82. Q. How did Christ die? A. Christ was nailed to the Cross and died on it between two thieves.
83. Q. Why did Christ suffer and die? A. Christ suffered and died for our sins.
84. Q. What lessons do we learn from the sufferings and death of Christ? A. From the sufferings and death of Christ we learn the great evil of sin, the hatred God bears to it, and the necessity of satisfying for it.
85. Q. Where did Christ’s soul go after His death? A. After Christ’s death His soul descended into hell.
86. Q. Did Christ’s soul descend into the hell of the damned? A. The hell into which Christ’s soul descended was not the hell of the damned, but a place or state of rest called Limbo, where the souls of the just were waiting for Him.
87. Q. Why did Christ descend into Limbo? A. Christ descended into Limbo to preach to the souls who were in prison—that is, to announce to them the joyful tidings of their redemption.
88. Q. Where was Christ’s body while His soul was in Limbo? A. While Christ’s soul was in Limbo His body was in the holy sepulchre.
89. Q. On what day did Christ rise from the dead? A. Christ rose from the dead, glorious and immortal, on Easter Sunday, the third day after His death.
90. Q. How long did Christ stay on earth after His resurrection? A. Christ stayed on earth forty days after His resurrection to show that He was truly risen from the dead, and to instruct His Apostles.
91. Q. After Christ had remained forty days on earth whither did He go? A. After forty days Christ ascended into heaven, and the day on which He ascended into heaven is called Ascension day.