Q. 63.  What is death?  A. Death in man is caused by the separation of the soul from the body, for Adam was made a living being by the union of his soul and body.

Q. 64.  Why do we say of Christ “He was buried”? 
A. We say that “He was buried” to show that He was really dead.

Q. 65.  Did “hell” always mean only that state in which the damned are punished?  A. The word “hell” was sometimes used to signify the grave or a low place.  In the Apostles’ Creed it means Limbo.

Q. 66.  Is Limbo the same place as Purgatory?  A. Limbo is not the same place as Purgatory, because the souls in Purgatory suffer, while those in Limbo do not.

Q. 67.  Who were in Limbo when Our Lord descended into it?  A. There were in Limbo when Our Lord descended into it the souls of all those who died the friends of God, but could not enter heaven till the Ascension of Our Lord.

Q. 68.  Name some holy persons who died before Christ ascended into heaven.  A. Among the holy persons who died before Christ ascended into heaven, we may mention:  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, the Prophets, St. Ann, St. John the Baptist, and St. Joseph.

Q. 69.  What do we mean by “Judge the living and the dead”?  A. By the “living” we mean all those who shall be alive upon the earth at the last day, and by the “dead” those who have died before that time.  Or the “living” may also mean those who are in a state of grace; and the “dead” those who are in mortal sin.

Q. 70.  How many branches or parts of the Church are there?  A. There are three branches or parts of the Church, called the Church Militant, the Church Suffering, and the Church Triumphant.

Q. 71.  What do we mean by the “Church Militant”?  A. By the “Church Militant” or “fighting Church” we mean all the faithful who are still upon earth struggling for their salvation by warring against their spiritual enemies.

Q. 72.  What do we mean by the “Church Suffering”?  A. By the “Church Suffering” we mean the faithful in Purgatory, who are being purified from the last stains and consequences of their sins.

Q. 73.  What do we mean by the “Church Triumphant”?  A. By the “Church Triumphant” we mean all the faithful now in heaven, rejoicing with God that they have defeated their spiritual enemies and attained their salvation.

Q. 74 Explain the “Communion of Saints.”  A. The “Communion of Saints” means that the members of the three branches of the Church can help one another.  We can assist the souls in Purgatory by our prayers and good works, while the Saints in heaven intercede for us.

Q. 75.  Does the “Communion of Saints” mean anything else?  A. The “Communion of Saints” means also that we all share in the merits of Our Lord and in the superabundant satisfaction of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, as well as in the prayers and good works of the Church and of the faithful.

Q. 76.  Have the Saints their bodies in heaven?  A. The Saints have not yet their bodies in heaven, as they will have them after the resurrection on the last day.  Our Divine Lord and His blessed Mother are the only persons whose bodies are now in heaven.