Although traditional definitions define it as including the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, in fact, the Paschal Mystery encompasses all that Christ did to redeem us. The Tradition of the Church bears witness to the fact that we are redeemed (saved) just as much by the Incarnation of Christ, as by his death on Calvary. By taking on our human nature, Jesus unites himself to us in an irrevocable manner, already beginning to undo the separation between God and humanity caused by our sinfulness. By taking on our flesh, Jesus makes us “partakers of the divine nature.” (CCC 460) This is why, the Catechism reminds us, the feasts surrounding the mystery of the Incarnation (Annunciation, Christmas and Epiphany) “commemorate the beginning of our salvation and communicate to us the first fruits of the Paschal mystery.” (CCC 1171)

The events by which Christ accomplished our salvation are historical events. But the Church says they are distinct from other historical events in a very important manner: The Catechism tells us that while “all other historical events happen once, and then they pass away,” the Paschal Mystery “cannot remain only in the past” because those events participate “in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times while being made present in them all.” (CCC 1085) But how are these saving events made present to us?

The liturgy

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church proclaims, celebrates and makes present the Paschal Mystery in its liturgy and sacraments. The liturgy does not simply remember what Christ has done for us, it actualizes Christ’s saving work. It allows us to participate in his saving actions and experience transformation through his grace and Real Presence.

In the liturgy, Christ is present in the assembly, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:20) He is present in the proclamation of the Scriptures. Christ is also truly present through the priest, who acts in persona Christi capitis (in the person of Christ the Head) as he presides over the liturgy and, most specifically and fully, during the Eucharistic Prayer as the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Pope Francis taught in his 2022 Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desideravi that the liturgy, by making present the Paschal Mystery, offers us an encounter with the living Christ who saves us. He wrote, “For us a vague memory of the Last Supper would do no good. We need to be present at that Supper, to be able to hear his voice, to eat his Body and drink his Blood. We need Him.” (11)

The sacraments

The sacraments were instituted by Christ and were entrusted to the Church. They are not simply reminders of Christ’s saving action. They are the efficacious signs of grace that actually do what they signify. They are the means through which the saving work of Christ is made available and experienced by people in every time and place through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Each sacrament transforms us in the present by mediating the fruits of the Paschal Mystery. If we look closely at each of the sacraments, we will see that each sacrament applies the Paschal Mystery to our lives in a particular manner. Let’s look at a few examples here. Speaking of baptism, St. Paul writes: “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.” (Rom 6:3-4) In reconciliation, during the prayer of absolution, the priest prays: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.” In the words of consecration at Mass, the priest echoes Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, speaking of his Body which will be given up and his Blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins – a reference to what he will do through his death on the Cross.

Pope Francis observed that, “in all the sacraments we are guaranteed (emphasis added) the possibility of encountering the Lord Jesus and of having the power of his Paschal Mystery reach us.” (Desiderio Desideravi, 11)

For Reflection

Consider spending time in prayer meditating on the following:

When you look at a crucifix you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Eucharist you understand how much Jesus loves you now.

(Commonly attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta)