CCC 627

Christ's death was a real death in that it put an end to his earthly human existence. But because of the union his body retained with the person of the Son, his was not a mortal corpse like others, for "divine power preserved Christ's body from corruption."⁴⁷⁰ St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 51, 3. Both of these statements can be said of Christ: "He was cut off out of the land of the living",⁴⁷¹ Is 53:8. and "My flesh will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let your Holy One see corruption."⁴⁷² Acts 2:26-27; cf. Ps 16:9-10. Jesus' Resurrection "on the third day" was the proof of this, for bodily decay was held to begin on the fourth day after death.⁴⁷³ Cf. I Cor 15:4; Lk 24:46; Mt 12:40; Jon 2:1; Hos 6:2; cf. Jn 11:39. "Buried with Christ. . ."