Q. 373. What do we mean by the transfiguration of Our Lord? A. By the transfiguration of Our Lord we mean the supernatural change in His appearance when He showed Himself to His Apostles in great glory and brilliancy in which "His face did shine as the sun and His garments became white as snow." Q. 374. Who were present at the transfiguration? A. There were present at the transfiguration--besides the Apostles Peter, James and John, who witnessed it--the two great and holy men of the Old Law, Moses and Elias, talking with Our Lord. Q. 375. What caused Our Lord's agony in the garden? A. It is believed Our Lord's agony in the garden was caused: (1) By his clear knowledge of all He was soon to endure; (2) by the sight of the many offenses committed against His Father by the sins of the whole world; (3) by His knowledge of men's ingratitude for the blessings of redemption. Q. 376. Why was Christ cruelly scourged? A. Christ was cruelly scourged by Pilate's orders, that the sight of His bleeding body might move His enemies to spare His life. Q. 377. Why was Christ crowned with thorns? A. Christ was crowned with thorns in mockery because He had said He was a King. Q. 378. Could Christ, if He pleased, have escaped the tortures of His Passion? A. Christ could, if He pleased, have escaped the tortures of His Passion, because He foresaw them and had it in His power to overcome His enemies. Q. 379. Was it necessary for Christ to suffer so much in order to redeem us? A. It was not necessary for Christ to suffer so much in order to redeem us, for the least of His sufferings was more than sufficient to atone for all the sins of mankind. By suffering so much He showed His great love for us. Q. 380. Who betrayed Our Lord? A. Judas, one of His Apostles, betrayed Our Lord, and from His sin we may learn that even the good may become very wicked by the abuse of their free will. Q. 381. How was Christ condemned to death? A. Through the influence of those who hated Him, Christ was condemned to death, after an unjust trial, at which false witnesses were induced to testify against Him. Q. 382. {79} On what day did Christ die? A. Christ died on Good Friday. Q. 383. {80} Why do you call that day "good" on which Christ died so sorrowful a death? A. We call that day good on which Christ died because by His death He showed His great love for man, and purchased for him every blessing. Q. 384. How long was Our Lord hanging on the cross before He died? A. Our Lord was hanging on the Cross about three hours before He died. While thus suffering, His enemies stood around blaspheming and mocking Him. By His death He proved Himself a real mortal man, for He could not die in His divine nature. Q. 385. What do we call the words Christ spoke while hanging on the Cross? A. We call the words Christ spoke while hanging on the Cross "the seven last words of Jesus on the Cross." They teach us the dispositions we should have at the hour of death.