RCIA Resources – Session 22

The Passion and Death of Christ — The Sacrifice That Saves

RCIA – Week 22
This session forms part of a structured introduction to the Catholic Faith used in parish RCIA. It is intended to be read slowly and prayerfully, alongside participation in the life of the Church. This material is offered for formation and reflection. Reception into the Catholic Church always involves personal discernment and parish accompaniment.

Aim of this session

By the end of this session, participants should understand that:

  • the death of Christ was not an accident or failure
  • the Cross is a true sacrifice offered to God
  • Christ freely accepted suffering and death
  • the Cross makes satisfaction for sin
  • redemption is accomplished through love and obedience

This session asks:

Why did Christ suffer and die — and what did the Cross achieve?

1. The Cross Was Not an Unexpected Tragedy

It is easy to think of the Cross as:

  • a political failure
  • a miscarriage of justice
  • an event that went wrong

The Church teaches otherwise.

Christ:

  • knew what awaited Him
  • foretold His suffering
  • freely accepted it

The Cross was not imposed against His will.
It was embraced.

2. Christ’s Death Was Freely Chosen

Christ did not die because He was powerless.

He:

  • had authority
  • could have avoided death
  • chose obedience

His suffering was:

  • voluntary
  • conscious
  • loving

This matters because:

  • forced suffering cannot redeem
  • chosen obedience can

The Cross is an act of freedom.

3. What Is a Sacrifice?

A sacrifice is:

The offering of a gift to God as a sign of worship and obedience.

Sacrifice involves:

  • surrender
  • love
  • obedience

Christ’s death was not merely endurance of pain.
It was an offering.

He offered:

  • His life
  • His obedience
  • His love

to the Father, for us.

4. Why the Cross Was Necessary

Sin is not a small matter.

Sin:

  • rejects God’s authority
  • wounds justice
  • damages relationship

Forgiveness requires:

  • restoration of justice
  • reconciliation of relationship

The Cross accomplishes this by:

  • perfect obedience
  • perfect love
  • perfect self-giving

Christ does what humanity failed to do.

5. Satisfaction for Sin

The Church teaches that:

Christ made satisfaction for sin

This does not mean:

  • God demanded suffering
  • God took pleasure in pain

It means:

Christ offered obedience and love greater than the offence of sin.

Love repairs what disobedience broke.

Penny Catechism

Q. Why did Jesus Christ suffer and die?
A. Jesus Christ suffered and died to redeem us from sin and to open to us the kingdom of heaven.

6. The Cross Reveals God’s Love

The Cross is not only about justice.

It reveals:

  • the seriousness of sin
  • the depth of God’s love

God does not save from a distance.
He enters suffering.

The Cross shows:

God loves humanity to the point of self-giving.

7. The Cross and Our Salvation

Christ’s sacrifice is:

  • sufficient for all
  • offered once
  • never repeated

Yet it must be:

  • received
  • applied
  • lived

Salvation is not automatic.
It is offered.

The Cross is the source of grace.

8. Common Difficulties Addressed

“Why couldn’t God forgive without the Cross?”

Forgiveness restores relationship; the Cross heals justice through love.

“Isn’t this violent?”

The violence comes from sin; the sacrifice comes from love.

“Does suffering have value?”

Suffering freely united to love can redeem.

9. What Is Being Asked of You Now

At this stage, you are not asked to:

  • understand all mystery
  • accept suffering lightly

You are asked to consider this:

If Christ loved me to the point of the Cross, how do I respond?

That question leads directly to the Resurrection.

10. Questions for the Week

Reflect quietly during the week:

  • Do I see the Cross as failure or victory?
  • How do I understand sacrifice?
  • What does love require of me?

11. Closing Summary

The Cross is not an accident.
It is a sacrifice.

Christ:

  • freely obeyed
  • offered Himself
  • redeemed humanity

Next week we will ask:

Did death have the final word — or did Christ rise from the dead?

Optional Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
You loved us to the end
and offered Yourself for our salvation.
Give us hearts grateful for Your sacrifice
and courage to follow You in love.
Amen.