Paschal Mystery
Encyclopedia
The Paschal Mystery refers to the suffering (sometimes called the passion), death, Resurrection
, and Glorification of Jesus Christ. People of Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Christian
faiths celebrate this mystery in the sacrament
of the Eucharist
. The center of the work the Father sent Jesus to do on earth is referred to as the Paschal Mystery. The word "paschal" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "the passing over."
Eucharist is the name given to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, which gives its twofold aspect of sacrament and Sacrifice of Mass, and in which Jesus Christ is truly present under the bread and wine, and makes present the Paschal Mystery. It is shown to be the climax of Mark's Gospel. Christians believe this mystery to show God's love to his people, representing Jesus' suffering resulting in eternal life.
The "Paschal Mystery" as a phrase can be separated and examined to more fully understand the concept it represents. If you look at the first word, "Paschal" you can break that down to the root word from the Aramaic "pasha". This word means passover. The second word, mystery, describes not an idea that must be unlocked or solved (like a mystery novel), but a truth not yet understood; a truth that is still unfolding and the mystery about it is that we can never fully understand it. To put these two words together, the phrase describes a truth not understood that is still unfolding about the passing over (the life, suffering, death and glorification) of Christ.
Through the Paschal Mystery everything has been justified and made right in Christ with God. Jesus came to fulfill and perfect the covenant of God, and to assure all that God's love is eternal and constant.
As Jesus truly dies and is buried, how we should be filled with wonder! Seamlessly the sadness of Christ’s death gives way to the joy of the Resurrection as Easter dawns upon us (Compendium, 126).
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
, and Glorification of Jesus Christ. People of Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Christian
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
faiths celebrate this mystery in the sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
of the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. The center of the work the Father sent Jesus to do on earth is referred to as the Paschal Mystery. The word "paschal" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "the passing over."
Eucharist is the name given to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, which gives its twofold aspect of sacrament and Sacrifice of Mass, and in which Jesus Christ is truly present under the bread and wine, and makes present the Paschal Mystery. It is shown to be the climax of Mark's Gospel. Christians believe this mystery to show God's love to his people, representing Jesus' suffering resulting in eternal life.
The "Paschal Mystery" as a phrase can be separated and examined to more fully understand the concept it represents. If you look at the first word, "Paschal" you can break that down to the root word from the Aramaic "pasha". This word means passover. The second word, mystery, describes not an idea that must be unlocked or solved (like a mystery novel), but a truth not yet understood; a truth that is still unfolding and the mystery about it is that we can never fully understand it. To put these two words together, the phrase describes a truth not understood that is still unfolding about the passing over (the life, suffering, death and glorification) of Christ.
The Crucifixion and Descent of Jesus to the Dead
Jesus sacrificed his life by freely accepting death on the cross and being put in a tomb. In experiencing death and overcoming it in resurrection, Christ assures us that we will have life everlasting with God as we too, through Christ's accomplishment as our representative, will triumph over death and pass into eternal life with the resurrection of the glorified body.The Resurrection
Three days after he died and was buried, Jesus was raised from the dead with a new and glorified body. All four Gospels of the New Testament clearly give an account of the resurrection. This event is at the heart of faith in Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-5).The Ascension and Exaltation
Forty days after the resurrection, the risen Christ ascended to the Father in Heaven, God's domain. From there, Christ, who is hidden from our eyes, will come again in glory at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. Through the Ascension and Exaltation of Christ, humanity has been given the unbreakable promise of everlasting life with God.Through the Paschal Mystery everything has been justified and made right in Christ with God. Jesus came to fulfill and perfect the covenant of God, and to assure all that God's love is eternal and constant.
As Jesus truly dies and is buried, how we should be filled with wonder! Seamlessly the sadness of Christ’s death gives way to the joy of the Resurrection as Easter dawns upon us (Compendium, 126).