The Evangelium #6

1. The Paschal
Mystery

2. 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

3. The Passion of Jesus

4. What is the Passion of Jesus Christ?

5. What is the Passion of Jesus Christ?
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

6. What is the Passion of Jesus Christ?
“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

8. 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.

9. What were the events of the Passion?
Scenes from the Passion of Christ by Hans Memling

10. What were the events of the Passion?
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.

11. What were the events of the Passion?
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).

12. What were the events of the Passion?

13. What were the events of the Passion?
Gethsemane
The Last Supper
The carrying of the cross
Scourging
“Ecce, homo!”
Crucifixion
Crowning with thornsTrial
Triumphal entry
Laying in the tomb

14. What is the atonement?

15. What is the atonement?
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

16. What is the atonement?
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.

17. The atonement and ourselves
The Mystic Lamb by Jan van Eyck
The Lamb of Sacrifice, abiding forever, surrounded by the instruments of the
Passion and the saints gathered in heaven, the fruits of the atonement.

18. 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)
The atonement and ourselves

19. WHAT THE ATONEMENT DOES FOR US
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).
The atonement and ourselves

20. WHAT THE ATONEMENT DOES FOR US
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)
The atonement and ourselves

21. WHAT THE ATONEMENT DOES FOR US
Reconciles us to God
In Christ God was reconciling the
world to himself (2 Cor 5:19)
The atonement and ourselves

22. WHAT THE ATONEMENT DOES FOR US
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 and ourselves

23. The atonement and ourselves
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).

24. Summary
Questions
to reinforce
key points
Discussion
questions
Practical
activities
Presentation Part II
Summary Activities I
Please select an activity or go immediately
to part II of the presentation

25. 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.

26. Questions to reinforce key points
Fulfils Scripture and salvation history
Reconciles us to God
Defeats the claims of the devil over us
Repays our debt of guilt
Gains mercy for us and repeals our punishment
What does the atonement do for us?
Activities Menu Presentation Part II
1
2
Click on a box to reveal one
of the answers
3
4
5

27. Discussion questions
Activities Menu Presentation Part II
• 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:

28. Practical activities
Activities Menu Presentation Part II
• 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.
Select one or more of the following:

29. The Resurrection of Jesus
The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca

30. The Resurrection of Jesus

31. The Resurrection of Jesus
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.

32. The descent to the dead
Christ in Limbo by Fra Angelico

33. The descent to the dead
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.

34. The descent to the dead

35. The descent to the dead
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.

36. What is the Resurrection?
Doubting Thomas by Caravaggio

37. What is the Resurrection?
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

38. What is the Resurrection?
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.

39. What is the Resurrection?
“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

40. What is the Resurrection?
MISTAKES ABOUT THE RESURRECTION
 A ghostly
resurrection
Denies that Jesus rose in
his human body, and
claims that only his soul
or ghost returned.

41. What is the Resurrection?
MISTAKES ABOUT THE RESURRECTION
 A ‘moral’
resurrection
Denies that Jesus lives on,
and interprets his
Resurrection as a mere
continuation of his
message.

42. What is the Resurrection?
MISTAKES ABOUT THE RESURRECTION
 A mere revival
Denies that Jesus’ risen
body was glorified, and
claims that he merely
returned to his former
condition.

43. What is the Resurrection?
MISTAKES ABOUT THE RESURRECTION
 A failed
crucifixion
Denies that Jesus really
died, and claims that he
was resuscitated or was
part of an elaborate hoax.

44. What is the Resurrection?
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

45. The importance of the Resurrection for us
The Last Judgment by Fra Angelico
Christ’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.

46. The importance of the Resurrection for us
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

47. 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
The importance of the Resurrection for us
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.

48. What is the Ascension?
The Ascension of Christ by Garofalo

49. What is the Ascension?
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).

50. What is the Ascension?
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.

51. Summary
Questions
to reinforce
key points
Discussion
questions
Practical
activities
Concluding Prayer
Summary Activities II
Please select an activity or go immediately
to the concluding prayer

52. 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

53. 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
1
2
Click on a box to reveal one
of the answers
3

54. 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.
Select one or more of the
following:
Concluding Prayer

55. Practical activities
Activities Menu
• Read the Compendium of
the Catechism questions
125-132.
• Read one of the passages
about the Resurrection
from the gospels.
Select one or more of the
following:
Concluding Prayer

56. 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.