Did Jesus rise from the dead … twice?
Did Jesus rise from the dead … twice?
Question: I’m curious if you could assist me with an interpretation of the term “again” in the Apostles Creed: “He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead.”
— Ken Theodore, Townsville, Australia
Answer: “Rose again” is the English interpretation of the Latin term found in the Creed, resurrexit. It is a faithful rendering of this Latin verb, which consists of two terms: re (again) and surrexit (he stood up). The Greek term is anastasis and is similar: ana (again) + stasis (to stand).
Your inquiry reflects on the necessity of the term “again” and suggests that simply stating “he rose” from the dead would be enough. Some inquirers throughout the years have also speculated whether this means that the Lord rose multiple times. However, “rose again” is quite a standard expression. For instance, I might say, “Last night I went to bed at 10 p.m., and this morning at 6 a.m., I got up again.” While the term “again” isn’t strictly essential in that context, it is common for us to express ourselves this way; it is a familiar idiom in several languages. From a technical perspective, it signifies a return to a previous state: “I was up, I lay down, I got up again.” This means, “I went back to the condition I was in before I slept.” Therefore, when we say Christ arose again — it indicates that he was alive, he surrendered his life and died, but then he arose, coming back to life once more. This idiom does not suggest that he arose twice, but instead, it emphasizes his return to the condition of being physically alive, which he held earlier. I trust this clarifies the matter.
Latin in the Mass
Question: Can parish priests use Latin during the Mass? Our parish priest recites Latin nearly every week (i.e. Kyrie). Is it appropriate for this Latin to be recited during the Sunday Mass?
— Jim Hammond, Decatur, Indiana
Answer: Indeed, it is entirely appropriate and allowed to utilize Latin in the sacred liturgy. The Second Vatican Council is often either praised or criticized for eliminating Latin. However, this assertion is incorrect. The council explicitly stated: “Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites. But since the use of the vernacular, whether in the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, or other portions of the liturgy, can often be of significant benefit to the congregation, the boundaries of its usage may be broadened. This will primarily pertain to the readings and directives, as well as certain prayers and hymns, in accordance with the regulations on this subject to be established separately in later chapters.”Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 36:1-2). Therefore, although the vernacular is more broadly allowed in the novus ordo, the complete removal of Latin from the Mass was neither anticipated nor deemed necessary.
Pope St. Paul VI subsequently released Jubilate Deo, which was designed as a “basic collection of Gregorian chant.” Its purpose was “to facilitate Christians in attaining unity and spiritual harmony with their fellow believers and with the vibrant tradition of history. Therefore, those who aim to enhance the quality of congregational singing must acknowledge Gregorian chant the position it rightfully deserves.”
There was another intention for this modest compilation: “As the faithful from various nations gather more often, it is appropriate that they learn to sing together at least certain sections of the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin, particularly the Creed and the Our Father, arranged to the more straightforward melodies” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 41).
Therefore, it is entirely fitting for your parish priest to utilize Latin and motivate the faithful to learn and sing segments of the Mass that relate to them in Latin. The “Kyrie” you reference is indeed Greek (the sole Greek remaining in the Western liturgies), but it is a component of the collection of traditional chants that every Catholic ought to be familiar with.
There are additional elements of Latin that a priest might incorporate. For instance, he may articulate the Eucharistic Prayer in Latin. From time to time, and in certain locations, the new Mass is conducted completely in Latin, except for the scripture readings. Considering the prevalent decline of Latin in American parishes, priests ought to be careful in reintroducing Latin and assist the congregation by instructing and clarifying the role of Latin, yet the use of Latin is advocated in official documents and should not be as overlooked as it presently is in many areas.
Msgr. Charles Pope is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in Washington, D.C., and writes for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. at blog.adw.org. Send questions to msgrpope@osv.com.
