The passion and The passion and death of Jesus Christdeath of Jesus Christ

1414

RUBENS, Pieter PauwelChrist on the Cross

1627Oil on panel, 51 x 38 cmRockox House, Antwerp

Compendium of the Catechism

112. What is the importance of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus?

571-573 The Paschal Mystery of Jesus,

which comprises his passion, death, resurrection, and glorification, stands at the center of the Christian faith because God's saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ.

Introduction

Among the great mysteries of Jesus Christ’s love recounted in the Gospels, the most amazing is His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Why did Jesus die? For our salvation, that is to say, to gain for us forgiveness of our sins and to give us back the grace and the friendship of God. This way Jesus showed His love for us and also manifested the evil of sin.

ROSSO FIORENTINODescent from the Cross (detail)1521Oil on woodCathedral, Volterra

Main ideasMain ideas

1. Jesus Christ is the Saviour

After our first parents’ fall, man had to be redeemed.

Out of His infinite love for men, God sent His Son so that we could be saved from our sins.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God made man who has saved us. He and only He is the Redeemer of man.

GRECO, ElChrist as Saviourc. 1600Oil on canvas, 73 x 56,5 cmNational Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

2. Jesus Christ offers a sacrifice of infinite value

God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Abraham obeys heroically, takes Isaac, together with a heap of wood, and goes up to the mountain to sacrifice him. But once Abraham’s faith has been tested God does not consent to the sacrifice.

Isaac’s sacrifice is a prefiguration of Christ’s Passion, with the only difference being that, in the case of His Son, God accepted his sacrifice and gave Him up unto death for us. EMPOLI

Sacrifice of Isaac1590s

Oil on copper, 32 x 25 cmGalleria degli Uffizi, Florence

3. Jesus Christ, priest, offers himself

In the Old Testament priests were in charge of offering sacrifices to God.

Jesus Christ, eternal priest, did not offer either things of the earth or animals. He offered Himself.

Jesus Christ is at the same time the Priest that offered himself on the Cross, and the Victim of this sacrifice.BADALOCCHIO, Sisto

The Dead ChristOil on panel, 20 x 31 cmPrivate collection

4. Why did Jesus Christ offer Himself on the Cross?

Jesus Christ offered Himself on the Cross mainly for four reasons: To give glory to God, His

Father. To thank God. To pay for the offence of sin. To ask God for what we

need.

DAVID, Jacques-LouisChrist on the Cross

1782Oil on canvas, 276 x 188 cmChurch of St Vincent, Mâcon

5. The Cross in Christian life

" He who does not take up his Cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Lk 14:27).

Jesus took the Cross on His shoulders also to give us an example by teaching us to love sacrifice. In order to be identified with Him, we have to love things that we do not like by offering them to Jesus and also, for love of Him, to look for those things that we like least.

GRECO, ElChrist Carrying the Cross 1600-05Oil on canvas, 108 x 78 cmMuseo del Prado, Madrid

Resolutions for Resolutions for Christian lifeChristian life

Resolutions to move forward

Give thanks to Jesus wherever you see a Cross or a Crucifix, because He has died to save us.

Contemplate the XIV Stations of the Way of the Cross.