the paschal mystery

The Paschal Mystery

The Paschal Mystery

The Paschal mystery is the Passion, death and Resurrection of

Jesus Christ by which he heals us from sin

and enables us to become children of

God.KEY DEFINITION

The Paschal Mystery

The Crucifixion by Giotto di Bondone

The Paschal Mystery definition

The Passion of Jesus

The Passion of Jesus

What is the Passion of Jesus Christ?

What is the Passion of Jesus Christ? (1)


The Passion of Jesus Christ is his sacrificial suffering and death by crucifixion on mount Calvary.

Jesus told his disciples of these events before they took place. He also made it clear to them that he would suffer freely for the salvation of the world.

Christ on the Cross by Velazquez



“The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Mt 20:18-19



The sacrificial nature of Christ’s death on the cross

brings atonement for the whole human race.

Angels catch the precious

blood Symbolising the sacrifice offered to the Father.

St Francis and his followers

represent the Christians of later ages.

Mary Magdalene

John

Mary

Centurion confesses Christ

as Son of God.


What were the events of the Passion?

Scenes from the Passion of Christ by Hans Memling

What were the events of the Passion? (1)


After his Last Supper, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane outside the walls of Jerusalem.

He was tried and found guilty by the Sanhedrin and then handed over to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, who had him crucified.



Jesus was scourged, crowned with thorns and then led up to the hill of Calvary carrying his cross.

While being crucified, he prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk

23:34).

As he died, he said, “It is accomplished” (Jn 19:30).





Gethsemane

The Last Supper

The carrying of the cross

Scourging

“Ecce, homo!”

Crucifixion

Crowning with thorns

Trial

Triumphal entry Laying in the

tomb


What is the atonement?

What is the atonement? (1)


The word ‘atonement’ describes Christ’s saving action well. It implies both a repayment for our sins (to atone) and a reunion of God and humanity (making at-one).

You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

1 Pet 1:18



The atonement is accomplished through a sacrificial petition offered by Christ to God, the divine love of which utterly revokes the offence of all sins and bears the pain and cost of sin in itself.

Only a person who was truly divine, human and innocent could make such an effective sacrifice on our behalf.


The atonement and ourselves

The Mystic Lamb by Jan van EyckThe Lamb of Sacrifice, abiding forever, surrounded by the

instruments of the Passion and the saints gathered in heaven, the fruits of the atonement.

The atonement and ourselves (1)

WHAT THE ATONEMENT DOES FOR US

Repays our debt of guilt

“The Son of Man came ... to serve and to give his life as a ransom”

(Mt 20:28)




Gains mercy for us and repeals our punishment Upon him was the punishment that made us whole (Isa 53:5). “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:28).




Defeats the claims of the devil over us

“Now shall the ruler of this world be cast out” (Jn 12:31) deliver those ... subject to lifelong bondage ... (Heb 2:15)




Reconciles us to God

In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself (2 Cor 5:19)




Fulfils Scripture and salvation history As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth, making peace by the blood of his cross (Col

1:20)




The atonement also teaches us the seriousness of sin, by the bitterness of its remedy, and manifests the extent of God’s love for us,

“God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

By the atonement, Jesus has also given us the supreme example of sacrificial love.“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).


SummaryQuestions

to reinforcekey points

Discussionquestions

Practicalactivities

Presentation Part II

Summary Activities I

Please select an activity or go immediately to part II of the presentation

Summary Activities I

Summary

Activities Menu Presentation Part II

• The Paschal mystery is the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ by which He heals us from sin and enables us to become children of God.

• The word ‘atonement’ describes Christ’s saving action. It implies both a repayment for our sins (to atone) and a reunion of God and humanity (making at-one).

• The atonement: repays our debt of guilt; gains mercy for us and repeals our punishment; defeats the claims of the devil over us; reconciles us to God; fulfils Scripture salvation history.

Summary I

Questions to reinforce key points

Fulfils Scripture and salvation history

Reconciles us to GodDefeats the claims of the devil over

usRepays our debt of guilt

Gains mercy for us and repeals our punishment

What does the atonement do for us?


12

Click on a box to reveal one of the

answers

345

Questions to reinforce key points I

Discussion questions


• Discuss what the Passion and death of Jesus Christ teaches us.

• “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Discuss what Jesus means by this statement.

Select one or more of the following:

Discussion questions I

Practical activities


• Walk around the Stations of the Cross in a church to follow the events of the Passion.

• Select and read one of the Passion narratives from the gospels.

• Spend some time in prayer before a crucifix.


Practical activities I

The Resurrection of Jesus

The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca

The Resurrection of Jesus (1)




The triumphal nature of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Banner of victory

representing triumph over death, sin and

the devil.

Evergreens in contrast to

the dead wood on the left show

the passage from death to life. They also

show the everlasting

nature of the Resurrection.

The wounds of Christ

emphasise the enduring value

of Christ’s sacrifice.

Sleeping guards

Represent the unbeliever who is unable to see the risen Christ.


The descent to the dead

Christ in Limbo by Fra Angelico

The descent to the dead (1)


The soul of Jesus descends to the dead in the period between his death and Resurrection.

Scripture refers to him “preaching to the spirits in prison” (1 Pet

3:18-20).

In other words, he released those just souls who had died before his coming and opened heaven to them.





Christ descended to the dead to free the just souls

who had awaited the coming of the Messiah.

Abraham These dead

were sometimes referred to as being taken to

‘Abraham’s bosom’.

Devil crushed

Christ bursts open the gates

of death.


What is the Resurrection?

Doubting Thomas by Caravaggio

What is the Resurrection? (1)


The Resurrection is Jesus Christ’s bodily rising from the dead after three days in the tomb.He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive.

1 Cor 15:4-6



St Peter states that Jesus rose physically: “[we] ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:41), but his glorified body had extraordinary new abilities.

He appeared at different times and places at will, and his body, though glorified and transformed in appearance, still bore the wounds of the crucifixion.



“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jn 20:28



MISTAKES ABOUT THE RESURRECTION

A ghostly resurrection

Denies that Jesus rose in his human body, and claims that only his soul or ghost returned.




A ‘moral’ resurrection

Denies that Jesus lives on, and interprets his Resurrection as a mere continuation of his message.




A mere revival

Denies that Jesus’ risen body was glorified, and claims that he merely returned to his former condition.




A failed crucifixion

Denies that Jesus really died, and claims that he was resuscitated or was part of an elaborate hoax.



If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Cor 15:14, 20-22


The importance of the Resurrection for us

The Last Judgment by Fra AngelicoChrist’s empty tomb is depicted in the centre foreground,

alongside the empty tombs of all people. This shows that we shall be raised because of Christ’s Resurrection.

The importance of the Resurrection for us (1)


By his Resurrection, Jesus Christ confirmed for us:• that human life

does not cease with death

• the promise of a glorified risen humanity

• the validity of all he taught and did


For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1 Cor 15:22-23


He also gave the disciples the power to forgive sins, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the great commission to preach the Gospel to all nations.


What is the Ascension?

The Ascension of Christ by Garofalo

What is the Ascension? (1)


The Ascension is Jesus’ physical departure from his disciples. This event took place after forty days of appearances and teaching following his Resurrection.

Scripture records him ascending to heaven, which signifies the “definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain” (ccc. 665).



Jesus is now in heaven, where he intercedes and prepares a place for us, and from where he shall come again at the end of time.


SummaryQuestions

to reinforcekey points

Discussionquestions

Practicalactivities

Concluding Prayer

Summary Activities IIPlease select an activity or go immediately

to the concluding prayer

Summary Activities II

Summary

Activities Menu

• The soul of Jesus descended to the dead in the period between his death and Resurrection, freeing the just souls awaiting their redeemer.

• The Resurrection is Jesus Christ’s bodily rising from the dead after three days in the tomb. Jesus rose physically but his glorified body also had extraordinary new abilities.

• By his Resurrection, Jesus confirmed: that human life does not cease with death; the promise of a glorified risen humanity; the validity of all he taught and did.

• The Ascension is the entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain.

Concluding Prayer

Summary II

Questions to reinforce key points

Human life does not cease with death

Promise of a glorified risen humanity

Validation of all he taught and did

What does Jesus confirm by his Resurrection?

Activities Menu Concluding Prayer

12

Click on a box to reveal one of the

answers

3

Questions to reinforce key points II

Discussion questions

Activities Menu

• Discuss how one might respond to the claim that Jesus’ Resurrection was merely ‘spiritual’.

• St Paul says, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). Discuss what he means by this statement.


Concluding Prayer

Discussion questions II

Practical activities

Activities Menu

• Read the Compendium of the Catechism questions 125-132.

• Read one of the passages about the Resurrection from the gospels.


Concluding Prayer

Practical activities II

Final Prayer

From the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

You expired Jesus but the source of life gushed forth for the whole world and the ocean of mercy

opened up for the whole world. O, fount of life, unfathomable

Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon

us.Amen.

Final Prayer

Spiritual

the paschal mystery