Mass and penal substitutionary atonement

  • Thread starter Thread starter tom25
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tom25

Guest
I was thinking about the latin/EF mass earlier today, and I am curious if there is any work done on it’s relationship with atonement theology, in particular penal substitutionary atonement?
The two seem to look like they would compliment each other, and I would like to study relationship between them if there are any good books/essays out there on them.
 
tom25 said:
I was thinking about the latin/EF mass earlier today, and I am curious if there is any work done on it’s relationship with atonement theology, in particular penal substitutionary atonement?
The two seem to look like they would compliment each other, and I would like to study relationship between them if there are any good books/essays out there on them.
Click to expand...
In what way do you think that they compliment each other?
 
Penal substitutionary atonement is not Catholic, nor is it Biblical. In fact, it’s logically contradictory. That (last point) is reason enough to reject it. To put it bluntly, penal substitutionary atonement states that Christ was finitely punished with an infinite punishment, which is a clear self-contradiction.

And no, Anselm did not teach penal substitutionary atonement. I know that you haven’t mentioned him, but some would probably eventually do so.
 
I think they compliment each other in the sense that in penal substitutionary atonement we are sinners (and need to be informed) and Christ takes our punishment and we receive forgiveness. When I see and read the extraordinary form of the mass, I see prayers and homily pointing me to Christ, the offering of the Eucharist showing Christ taking my place, and receiving the Eucharist going with forgiveness.

Maybe it is just me, but the mass seems to like a playing out, or exercise, in penal substitutionary atonement. In light of that, I would like to know more but I am not sure where I should look.
 
tom25 said:
I think they compliment each other in the sense that in penal substitutionary atonement we are sinners (and need to be informed) and Christ takes our punishment and we receive forgiveness.
Click to expand...
But our punishment is eternal damnation. Christ wasn’t eternally damned (or damned at all, for that matter). As I said above, penal substitutionary atonement states that Christ was finitely punished with an infinite punishment, and that is an obvious self-contradiction.
 
Regardless of whether it is the Extraordinary or Ordinary Form of the mass, the same sacrifice is taking place. The Catholic Church rejects Penal Substitution, at least as it is commonly understood today, that Jesus took my punishment upon himself in my place and was therefore punished by the Father.

There was a lengthy discussion of Penal Substitution a while back and why/how it is not compatible with Catholic teaching, check this thread. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=1019004&page=1
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top