Compendium OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Your Daily Reading – excerpts from the Compendium

114. How did Jesus conduct himself in regard to the Law of Israel?

Jesus did not abolish the Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai but he fulfilled it by

giving it its definitive interpretation. He himself was the divine Legislator who fully carried

out this Law. Furthermore, as the faithful Servant, he offered by means of his expiatory death

the only sacrifice capable of making atonement for all the “transgressions committed by men

under the first Covenant” (Hebrews 9:15).

115. What was the attitude of Jesus toward the temple in Jerusalem?

Jesus was accused of hostility to the temple. On the contrary, he venerated it as “the house of

his Father” (John 2:16); and it was there that he imparted an important part of his teaching.

However, he also foretold its destruction in connection with his own death and he presented

himself as the definitive dwelling place of God among men.

116. Did Jesus contradict Israel's faith in the one God and savior?

Jesus never contradicted faith in the one God, not even when he performed the stupendous

divine work which fulfilled the messianic promises and revealed himself as equal to God,

namely the pardoning of sins. However, the call of Jesus to believe in him and to be

converted makes it possible to understand the tragic misunderstanding of the Sanhedrin

which judged Jesus to be worthy of death as a blasphemer.

117. Who is responsible for the death of Jesus?

The passion and death of Jesus cannot be imputed indiscriminately either to all the Jews that

were living at that time or to their descendants. Every single sinner, that is, every human

being is really the cause and the instrument of the sufferings of the Redeemer; and the greater

blame in this respect falls on those above all who are Christians and who the more often fall

into sin or delight in their vices.

Compendium OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Your Daily Reading – excerpts from the Compendium

92. Did Christ have a true human body?

Christ assumed a true human body by means of which the invisible God became visible. This is the reason why Christ can be represented and venerated in sacred images.

93. What does the heart of Jesus exemplify?

Jesus knew us and loved us with a human heart. His Heart, pierced for our salvation, is the symbol of that infinite love with which he loves the Father and each one of us.

94. What is the meaning of the expression “conceived by the power of the Holy

Spirit...”?

This expression means that the Virgin Mary conceived the eternal Son in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit without the cooperation of a man. The angel told her at the Annunciation that “the Holy Spirit will come upon you” (Luke 1:35).

95. “...Born of the Virgin Mary”: Why is Mary truly the Mother of God?

Mary is truly the Mother of God because she is the Mother of Jesus (John 2:1, John 19:25). The One who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and became truly her Son is actually the eternal Son of God the Father. He is God himself.

96. What does the “Immaculate Conception” mean?

God freely chose Mary from all eternity to be the Mother of his Son. In order to carry out her mission she herself was conceived immaculate. This means that, thanks to the grace of God and in anticipation of the merits of Jesus Christ, Mary was preserved from original sin from the first instant of her conception.

97. How does Mary cooperate in the divine plan of salvation?

By the grace of God Mary was kept free from every personal sin her whole life long. She is the one who is “full of grace” (Luke 1:28), “the all holy”. When the angel announced to her that she would give birth to “the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32), she freely gave her consent with “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5). Mary thus gave herself entirely to the person and work of her Son Jesus, espousing wholeheartedly the divine will regarding salvation.