Copyright © 2006 By Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.
Catechism Of The Catholic Church Reprinted With Permission.
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God’s Truth From The Catechism Of The Catholic Church – cont.
Jesus consummates his sacrifice on the cross
616 It is love "to the end"
446
that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and
reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life.
447
Now "the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore
all have died."
448
No man, not even the holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men
and offer himself as a sacrifice for all. The existence in Christ of the divine person of the Son, who
at once surpasses and embraces all human persons, and constitutes himself as the Head of all
mankind, makes possible his redemptive sacrifice for all.
617 The Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of Christ's sacrifice as "the source of
eternal salvation"
449
and teaches that "his most holy Passion on the wood of the cross
merited justification for us."
450
And the Church venerates his cross as she sings: "Hail, O Cross, our
only hope."
451
Our participation in Christ's sacrifice
618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men".
452
But
because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the
possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all
men.
453
He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]",
454
for "Christ also suffered
for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps."
455
In fact Jesus desires to
associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries.
456
This is
achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other
person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.
457
Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.
458
IN BRIEF
619 "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures" (I Cor 15:3).
620 Our salvation flows from God's initiative of love for us, because "he loved us and sent his Son
to be the expiation for our sins" (I Jn 4:10). "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself" (2
Cor 5:19).
621 Jesus freely offered himself for our salvation. Beforehand, during the Last Supper, he both
symbolized this offering and made it really present: "This is my body which is given for you" (Lk
22:19).
622 The redemption won by Christ consists in this, that he came "to give his life as a ransom for
many" (Mt 20:28), that is, he "loved [his own] to the end" (Jn 13:1), so that they might be
"ransomed from the futile ways inherited from [their] fathers" (I Pt 1:18).
623 By his loving obedience to the Father, "unto death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8), Jesus
fulfills the atoning mission (cf. Is 53:10) of the suffering Servant, who will "make many righteous;
and he shall bear their iniquities" (Is 53:11; cf. Rom 5:19).
Consult the Catechism for a list of all the source documents and citations used to prepare this section
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