Holy Shroud

True Image of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ 
Vintage print. 

He descended first to the underworld...   
The caption cites Ephesians 4 and Colossians 2  but to understand Christ's descent into the underworld in the time between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection and His eternal victory over the power of death, theologians have looked to many passages, among them:1 Peter 3:19-20    1 Peter 4:6    Acts 2: 31   2 Corinthians 2:14
The descent of the Baptized into Christ's own death, their deliverance, and final Resurrection is prefigured. 

Original copper-plate engraving by Karl Remshardt (1638-1735) from a German Catholic New Testament printed in 1709.

This is a magnificent image depicting the Water of Baptism as the Vine, the very Heart of God, flowing over the soul of the newly Baptized by the power of the Cross.
 
THE VINE AS THE HEART OF GOD
The young vine shoot bedded in the earth.
Small branch, always remember well
that you are of God,
that you are in God,
and that you are for God.
GRACE OF HOLY BAPTISM   Letaille See John 15:1-5
 
Note: Holy Saturday is the day when many are baptized into Christ.  At the Easter Vigil service, all  Christians renew their Baptismal Promises.

Lord, open to me the Holy House that your love has prepared for me.
Turgis.jpg

Note: The word bercail means sheepfold, so the meaning is perhaps more intimate, more like home than house; it is referring of course to the Church, the Body of Christ.
I love the card because it recalls the promises in John 10 that Jesus is both the shepherd and the door. He is the true shepherd to whom the doorkeeper opens the door (John 10:3). He is also the door itself (John 10:9).

There is a small printing error in the card ~ ma should have been m'a.

The good thoughts of the newborn soul.

HE DIED FOR US.

Rafael Tuck