Q. 390.  Why was the veil of the Temple torn asunder at the death of Christ?  A. The veil of the Temple was torn asunder at the death of Christ because at His death the Jewish religion ceased to be the true religion, and God no longer manifested His presence in the Temple.

Q. 391.  Why did the Jewish religion, which up to the death of Christ had been the true religion, cease at that time to be the true religion?  A. The Jewish religion, which, up to the death of Christ, had been the true religion, ceased at that time to be the true religion, because it was only a promise of the redemption and figure of the Christian religion, and when the redemption was accomplished and the Christian religion established by the death of Christ, the promise and the figure were no longer necessary.

Q. 392.  Were all the laws of the Jewish religion abolished by the establishment of Christianity?  A. The moral laws of the Jewish religion were not abolished by the establishment of Christianity, for Christ came not to destroy these laws, but to make them more perfect.  Its ceremonial laws were abolished when the Temple of Jerusalem ceased to be the House of God.

Q. 393.  What do we mean by moral and ceremonial laws?  A. By “moral” laws we mean laws regarding good and evil.  By “ceremonial” laws we mean laws regulating the manner of worshipping God in Temple or Church.

Q. 394. {81} Where did Christ die? 
A. Christ died on Mount Calvary.

Q. 395.  Where was Mount Calvary, and what does the name signify?  A. Mount Calvary was the place of execution, not far from Jerusalem; and the name signifies the “place of skulls.”

Q. 396. {82} How did Christ die? 
A. Christ was nailed to the Cross, and died on it between two thieves.

Q. 397.  Why was Our Lord crucified between thieves?  A. Our Lord was crucified between thieves that His enemies might thus add to His disgrace by making Him equal to the worst criminals.

Q. 398. {83} Why did Christ suffer and die? 
A. Christ suffered and died for our sins.

Q. 399.  How was Our Lord’s body buried?  A. Our Lord’s body was wrapped in a clean linen cloth and laid in a new sepulchre or tomb cut in a rock, by Joseph of Arimathea and other pious persons who believed in Our Divine Lord.

Q. 400. {84} 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.

Q. 401. {85} Whither did Christ’s soul go after His death?  A. After Christ’s death His soul descended into hell.

Q. 402. {86} 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 dammed, but a place or state of rest called Limbo, where the souls of the just were waiting for Him.

Q. 403. {87} 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.