Resurrexit Sicut Dixit

The other day I was sitting in a church which I normally don’t visit, the Immaculate Conception in Old Town, San Diego. After communion I was looking at the crucifix behind the altar and saw the words “Resurrexit Sicut Dixit” written above it. Rather embaressingly, it occurred to me that I couldn’t say for certain what the English translation of these words should be. I’m always amazed at the number of times I come across things while visiting an unfamiliar church building. Good to see all that money spent on my Catholic education didn’t go to waste!

After a quick Google search, I confirmed that, in English, the Latin phrase “Resurexit Sicut Dixit” means “He has risen as He said”. As well as being a line in the Marian hymn Regina Coeli, this text comes from the final chapter of Matthew’s Gospel where an angel explains to the women at the tomb that Christ had risen:

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
– Matthew 28:5-7

Once I knew this, the placement of that line of Scripture above the crucifix made sense to me. It was there to remind those worshipping in that church that the cross is not the final word or the end of the story. Jesus not only went to his death, but he rose again, which he foretold. As Hebrews says, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).