Christ crucified again?

[jpooh]

okay…i think i have an understanding of this, but am not sure if i am going to convey it properly to my friend…or quite possibly i am way off.!!!

her thought is that the catholic church beleives it is “re-crucifying” Christ at each celebration of the Eucharist (at each mass)…and her point is that it is scriptural, that Christ died ONCE for our salvation…and it doesnt need to be “redone” at every catholic mass…that He took care of things, and the church need not bother to try and “superceed” His actions…(yeah…she is a bit hostile in regards the the Church, but otherwise a real sweet woman----HONEST!)

here is my thoughts on how to respond:
the church also beleives He was crucified ONCE on the cross for all of mankind…but that He brings that sacrifice to us again, that His sacrificed body, blood, soul, and divinity are presented to us again thru His true presence in the bread and wine…He is not crucified/sacrificed again, but we are again united to His sacrifice…which is necessary because we are sinners, we are separated from His body through our sins, therefore we are in need what His sacrifice / crucifixion provided for us, redemption…

am i close??? can someone help me convey the Churches teachings on this better??..i have referenced the CCC, but its over my head, and I would hate to give misinformation

(I am sure this will eventually start the entire “once saved, always saved” discussion…so you may hear from me again after i email her again!!)

thank you all
jen

 

[Randy_Carson]

I think you are on track.

In the mass, the crucifixion of Christ is re-presented but Jesus is not crucified again. The blood was shed one time, and the Eucharist is a bloodless sacrifice.

There are some very good articles available here…point your browser to www.catholic.com and type bloodless sacrifice into the search field. You’ll be given lots of good articles to read and share with your friend.

 

[rcwhiteh]

Her thought is that the catholic church beleives it is “re-crucifying” Christ at each celebration of the Eucharist (at each mass)…and her point is that it is scriptural, that Christ died ONCE for our salvation…and it doesnt need to be “redone” at every catholic mass…that He took care of things, and the church need not bother to try and “superceed” His actions…(yeah…she is a bit hostile in regards the the Church, but otherwise a real sweet woman----HONEST!)

Hi, Jpooh;

Your assessment is correct regarding the Eucharist. I think it’s important to point out that the Body and Blood that is present in the Eucharist is not Christ crucified - it is Christ risen!

It is true that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was made once for all. It is also true that as Jesus is not physically present before the Eucharist (presanctified hosts in the tabernacle notwithstanding), we don’t have any way of actually nailing Him to the cross - so we CAN’T “re-crucify” Him.

Instead, we believe that God sends the Holy Spirit upon the gifts to transubstantiate them; the priest is then able, standing in the place of Christ, to “re-present” Jesus’ sacrifice to the Father. In this way, the sacrifice is not made again and again; instead, we join in the eternal sacrifice presented in Heaven.

It is sometimes difficult for those who are not familiar with the Eucharist to misunderstand it; please be charitable with your friend. Invite her to join in the discussion here; we will be happy to explain.

Pax vobiscum!
Robert

 

[JimG]

The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was accomplished ONCE, for all mankind.

The Mass makes US present at the sacrifice, by making that ONE sacrifice present to all times and ages and places.

 

[Della]

Along with the great answers the others have given, you might want to ask your friend how would be possible to “re-crucify” Christ merely by praying over a plate of hosts and cups of wine.

When the NT talks about re-crucifying Christ it is talking about committing the grave sin of apostasy, not about praying over bread and wine.

Besides all this, if she does not believe the hosts and wine become the body and blood of Christ, how can anyone be “re-crucifying” him?

Only if the hosts and wine actually do become the body and blood of Christ can anyone be guilty of “re-crucifying” Christ through grave sin, as Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 11:

[27] Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.
[28] Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
[29] For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Hi Jen, I am a protestant. You may want to ask them, Was Christ re-crucified when they accepted Jesus? Why Not?
Then use their own termology, concept constructs to explain your position to them.

 

[st_ignatius110]

Look in the book of Revelation and see where Christ stands before the Throne of God " as a lamb slain." This sacrifice of Christ is forever presented before the Throne of God and in Mass is made present. This is not a new sacrifice but the sacrifice that is eternally present before the Throne.

 

[adrift]

This Question was in Ask an Apoligist
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=121768

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross transcends time. It covers all those who lived before Good Friday and all those who came after it. The Catholic Church has never taught that it offers a NEW sacrifice at each Mass. The Mass is the SAME sacrifice offered on Calvary—extended through time and sacramentally made present in our present life situations. This has been the teaching of the Church from its earliest days:

catholic.com/library/Institution_of_the_Mass.asp

catholic.com/library/Sacrifice_of_the_Mass.asp

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.