What does the phrase “Paschal Mystery” mean?

It is the central concept and belief of the Catholic Church

Father Thomas Morrette

Several people have recently asked me about what the phrase “Paschal Mystery” means. They’ve heard it mentioned at Mass and referred to in Lenten materials and meditations. What does this important phrase mean?

The Paschal Mystery is the central concept and belief of the Catholic Church. It is a general phrase that refers to several crucial events in the life of Christ — His Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension — all of which accomplished humanity’s redemption. The phrase signifies Christ’s overarching passage, through several stages, from death to new life, fulfilling God’s plan of salvation.

Every year, it is particularly remembered on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter and the Ascension. This Paschal Mystery is also remembered and celebrated at every Mass and it is therefore a daily and continual remembrance.

The four core parts of the Paschal Mystery are Jesus’ Passion (suffering and crucifixion), Death, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven. These events freed humanity from sin and death and they offer newness of life on earth and the promise of eternal joy. The Paschal Mystery is linked to the Jewish Passover (the Pesach) — the event that freed Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. The parallel here is that the Paschal Mystery is God’s definitive act of liberation, freeing humanity from the bondage from sin and death to the newness of life.

To repeat: The Paschal Mystery is not just a yearly celebration but it is proclaimed, remembered and re-experienced by Catholics whenever they participate in the celebration of holy Mass.

If you listen carefully to the priest’s prayers at Masses during Lent, you will hear him pray for God’s people that they will use the season of Lent to prepare themselves well for “a worthy celebration of the Paschal Mystery” — that is, the upcoming observance of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. These prayers also remind Catholics to be worthily prepared for every Mass they will attend as they recall the awesome gift of their salvation won for them by Jesus Christ.

Paragraph 571 in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” states:  “The Paschal Mystery of Christ’s cross and Resurrection stands at the center of the Good News that the apostles, and the Church following them, are to proclaim to the world.” May all of us continue to live in, and preach, this awesome great and Good News!

 Father Morrette is pastor at The Catholic Community of Our Lady of Victory in Troy, Our Lady of the Snow Mission in Grafton and Christ Sun of Justice Parish in Troy.