Catechism of the Catholic Church · Part One › Section Two › Chapter Two · Article 6 (§§659–667)
Paragraphs · 9
The Catechism's text is under copyright, so each paragraph is quoted briefly here with a link to the full text at vatican.va.
"He Ascended into Heaven and is Seated at the Right Hand of the Father"
- §659 — "So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God."vatican.va
- §660 — The veiled character of the glory of the Risen One during this time is intimated in his mysterious words to Mary Magdalene: "I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."vatican.va
- §661 — This final stage stays closely linked to the first, that is, to his descent from heaven in the Incarnation. Only the one who "came from the Father" can return to the Father: Christ Jesus.vatican.va
- §662 — "and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." The lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces his lifting up by his Ascension into heaven, and indeed begins it.vatican.va
- §663 — Henceforth Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father: "By 'the Father's right hand' we understand the glory and honour of divinity, where he who exists as Son of God before all ages, indeed as God, of one being with the Father, is…vatican.va
- §664 — Being seated at the Father's right hand signifies the inauguration of the Messiah's kingdom, the fulfilment of the prophet Daniel's vision concerning the Son of man: "To him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his…vatican.va
In Brief
- §665 — Christ's Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus' humanity into God's heavenly domain, whence he will come again (cf Acts 1:11); this humanity in the meantime hides him from the eyes of men (cf Col 3:3).vatican.va
- §666 — Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father's glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him for ever.vatican.va
- §667 — Jesus Christ, having entered the sanctuary of heaven once and for all, intercedes constantly for us as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit.vatican.va
Scripture cited · 40 verses
Exodus 13:22 · Psalm 110:1 · Daniel 7:14 · Mark 16:12 · Mark 16:19 · Luke 9:34 · Luke 9:35 · Luke 24:15 · Luke 24:31 · Luke 24:51 · John 3:13 · John 12:32 · John 14:2 · John 16:28 · John 20:14 · John 20:15 · John 20:17 · John 20:19 · John 20:26 · John 21:4 · Acts 1:3 · Acts 1:9 · Acts 2:33 · Acts 7:56 · Acts 10:41 · 1 Corinthians 9:1 · 1 Corinthians 15:8 · Galatians 1:16 · Ephesians 4:8 · Ephesians 4:9 · Ephesians 4:10 · Hebrews 7:25 · Hebrews 9:11 · Hebrews 9:24 · Revelation 4:6 · Revelation 4:7 · Revelation 4:8 · Revelation 4:9 · Revelation 4:10 · Revelation 4:11