Grace Thompson
The Passion of Christ, derived from the Latin patior meaning to suffer, refers to the final period of Jesus's life, from the agony in the garden to his death on Calvary. This period is commemorated annually during Holy Week, especially on Good Friday, in most Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church. The Catholic tradition includes specific prayers and devotions, such as the Stations of the Cross, to remember Christ's sufferings and death. The film The Passion of the Christ also played a significant role in popular culture, sparking debates and discussions within the Catholic Church and beyond.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meaning of "The Passion" | From the Latin "patior", meaning "to suffer" |
| What it refers to | The sufferings of Christ for our redemption, from the agony in the garden until His death on Calvary |
| What it includes | Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, his cleansing of the Temple, his anointing, the Last Supper, his agony, his arrest, his trial before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate, his crucifixion and death, and his burial |
| The Gospels | Four separate accounts of the Passion of Our Lord, each supplementing the others |
| St. Matthew's Gospel | Insistence on the position of Jesus as the Christ |
| St. Luke's Gospel | Stress on the universal love manifested by our Lord, and sets forth the Passion as the great act by which the redemption of mankind was accomplished |
| St. Luke | The only one to record Pilate's statement that he found no cause in Jesus, and also the examination before Herod |
| St. Luke | Tells us of the angel who came to strengthen Jesus in his agony in the garden |
| St. Luke | Tells us of the effect produced upon the spectators, who so short a time before had been so full of hatred, and how they returned home “striking their breasts” |
| The Little Office of the Passion | Created by Francis of Assisi, it attributes specific moments in Jesus's Passion with specific hours of the day |
| The Stations of the Cross | A series of religious reflections describing or depicting Christ carrying the cross to his crucifixion; most Catholic churches contain these |
| The film "The Passion of the Christ" | Heavily promoted by many church groups; endorsed by more than a dozen Catholic bishops and cardinals |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Stations of the Cross
The devotion typically involves fourteen wooden crosses or small plaques with reliefs or paintings placed around a church nave. The stations may also be simple crosses with numerals, or in some cases, there may be no images at all. The prayers and reflections associated with each station include specific events from Christ's last day, such as his condemnation, his encounter with Mary, his crucifixion, and his burial.
The Passion of Christ, from the Latin "patior" meaning "to suffer", refers to the sufferings Jesus endured for the redemption of humanity. The Passion Narratives of the Gospels provide details of these sufferings, which are corroborated by contemporary Roman historians Tacitus, Seutonius, and Pliny the Younger. The Passion includes events such as Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, his agony in the garden, his arrest, his trials, his crucifixion, and his burial.
Vasectomy and Catholicism: What's the Verdict?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Holy Week
The week is filled with special liturgies, services, and traditions. On Palm Sunday, Christians commemorate Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, marked by the placement of palm branches in His path. Spy Wednesday (Holy Wednesday) remembers Judas' plot to betray Jesus. Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) commemorates the Last Supper, where Christ instituted the Eucharist or Holy Communion and foretold His betrayal, denial, death, and resurrection.
Good Friday is a solemn day for Catholics, focusing on Jesus' arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial. It is a day of fasting, without Mass or the celebration of the Eucharist. The Stations of the Cross are prayed, reflecting on Christ's journey to crucifixion. Holy Saturday remembers Jesus' time in the tomb, culminating in the Easter Vigil, where an Easter fire is lit, and the Paschal candle is blessed.
Confession Box: A Catholic Tradition
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Little Office of the Passion
The Psalms used in the Little Office of the Passion are not individual psalms from the Hebrew Scriptures. Instead, they are collages constructed by St. Francis of Assisi by combining passages from canticles, psalms, liturgical texts, and other sources to create images of the scenes from the Passion of Jesus. The Psalms are organized into five sequences that correspond to the Liturgical Year of the Roman Catholic Church.
Greeting Catholics: Happy Easter or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$16.99 $22.95
The Passion Narratives
The Passion is commemorated annually during Holy Week, especially on Good Friday. In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, a large cross depicting the crucified Christ is brought out, and the faithful come forward to venerate it. The Passion Gospel is read by the whole congregation, with the priest reading the part of Christ, a narrator reading the narrative, and other readers taking on the remaining speaking parts. The Byzantine Rite of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches intersperse twelve readings from the Gospel Book, detailing the events of the Passion chronologically, from the Last Supper to the burial in the tomb.
The Passion has been a significant focus of Christian devotion and reflection. The Stations of the Cross, found in most Catholic churches, depict Christ carrying the cross to his crucifixion, and are used to commemorate the Passion, especially on Good Friday. The Little Office of the Passion, created by Francis of Assisi, associates five specific moments in Jesus's Passion with specific hours of the day. The Catholic tradition also includes specific prayers and devotions as "acts of reparation" for the sufferings and insults Jesus endured during his Passion. These devotions aim to repair the sins committed against Jesus.
The Mystery of Catholic Pentecost Thursday
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Passion of the Christ film
The Passion of the Christ is a film directed by Mel Gibson and released in 2004. It is a unique depiction of the final hours of Jesus Christ's life, from the agony in the garden of Gethsemane to his death on the cross and resurrection. The film is notable for being shot in biblical languages without subtitles, and for its graphic and violent portrayal of Christ's crucifixion.
The film was heavily promoted by many church groups, with typical merchandise such as posters and t-shirts sold through retailers and websites. Many Christian denominations endorsed the film, including the United Methodist Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and more than a dozen Catholic bishops and cardinals. The film was also screened for Pope John Paul II, who reportedly said of it, "It is as it was".
The Passion of the Christ was a significant cultural event, sparking debates about its artistic merits, its overt religious themes, and whether it was anti-Semitic. The film was a box office success, earning $370.8 million in the United States and holding the record for the highest-grossing R-rated film in the domestic market for 20 years.
The film's director, Mel Gibson, reportedly self-funded the project to the tune of $25 million. The film's production was also influenced by Catholic mystics and visionaries such as Mary of Jesus of Ágreda and Anne Catherine Emmerich, whose book "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ" provided vivid descriptions of the crucifixion. The film has been described as "sacred cinema" and "the greatest work of sacred cinema ever made".
The Unforgivable Sin: Catholic Guilt and Redemption
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Passion of Christ refers to the sufferings Jesus endured for redemption from the agony in the garden until His death on Calvary.
The Passion Narratives of the Gospels provide the details of the Passion of Christ, including events such as the Last Supper, Jesus's agony, his arrest, his trial, and his crucifixion and death.
During Holy Week, most Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, will read one or more narratives of the Passion, especially on Good Friday. In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, a large cross depicting the crucified Christ is brought out into the church, and each member of the congregation comes forward to venerate the cross.
The Stations of the Cross are a series of religious reflections describing or depicting Christ carrying the cross to his crucifixion. Most Catholic churches contain the Stations of the Cross, typically placed at intervals along the sidewalls of the nave.
The Passion of the Christ is a film released in 2004 that depicts the Passion of Christ. It was directed by Mel Gibson and is considered a work of sacred cinema. The film was endorsed by several Catholic bishops and cardinals and remains the highest-grossing R-rated film in the domestic market (US & Canada) until 2024.
![The Crucifixion [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71YxHyd5B7L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
