Pastoral Note: What is the “Paschal Mystery”?
At Easter time, the clergy and the theologians like to use term that the rest of us often hear but may not fully understand: the paschal mystery. This is such an important expression that it is mentioned in the Catechism of the Catholic Church more than forty times. But what does it really mean?
To put it simply, when we say “the paschal mystery,” we are talking about everything Jesus Christ has done to save us. “Paschal mystery” captures in two words the whole work of Christ. This is why it is such a useful expression. It is like as summary of the whole Bible, or a summary of the whole story of our salvation from sin and our new life in Christ.
The very center of the paschal mystery is Jesus’ life, suffering, death on the cross, resurrection from death to life. (The word “paschal” comes from the Hebrew word for “Passover.”)
Jesus Christ took on our human nature and died and rose again for our sake. Therefore the paschal mystery applies not only to Christ, but also to everyone who follows him. His “Passover” is the key to our “Passover.” The Catechism puts it this way: “The Paschalmystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberated us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life.”
The Church’s mission is to live , celebrate and proclaim the paschal mystery. We do this in a special way when we gather for the sacrament of the Eucharist, in which all that Christ has done becomes present for us now. The Eucharist unites us with him, so that our whole life can give glory to God. This is the greatest fruit of the paschal mystery.
