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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Supernatural Life in Christ's Blood	PJ	Monday, March 15, 2010
Question: It is Christ's death that saves us, not literally His blood; hence if He died on the cross with no blood being shed we would still be saved. However, isn't Christ's sacrifice the perfect fulfillment of the OT and pagan animal sacrifices? But it was literally the shed blood that provided the temporary atonement and forgiveness, while the death of the animal was secondary. That blood was often sprinkled on the altar and on the people to cause the atonement, place on the door posts to save the Israelites, or drunk in the case of pagans; because as Leviticus tells us life is in the blood. This transference of life in the blood from animal to the human apparently was seen as healing and/or warding off the death caused by sin. Hence, shed blood was the necessary part of the sacrifice. But we do see this played out in the drinking of Christ's blood in the Eucharist, of which Christ says Himself says that if we don not drink it we do not have Life within us (Jn 6:53). And Christ's life, which is supernatural life, is necessary for salvation. So my question is this: Wouldn't it be accurate as the more perfect fulfillment of all the ancient prefigurements to say that Christ's death opened the door so-to-speak, but it the Life in His blood shed and shared with us that saves us? Thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear PJ: I fear that you are really obsessing on "what if" rather than focusing on "what is". There is a great danger in doing that as I described in a previous post. God can fulfil his Salvation History any way He wants. He planned His Salvation History in a way that appeals to the sacramental nature of the human person. Thus, "what is"? Christ died on that Cross for our sins to pay the penalty of eternal death that comes to the crime of sin. Jesus bled on the cross, but without His death the penalty would not have been paid as the penalty is death, not bleeding and remaining alive. Christ's death opens the door for our salvation, but salvation is not guaranteed. Our salvation is actually procured, as a norm, through Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, and Eucharist. Jesus said "unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood..." This sacramental act is true and would be the Sacramental reality regardless of whether or not Jesus bled on the Cross as Blood is the symbol (sacrament) of life. (John 6:53-57) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. We must move on. Remember this is not a discussion board. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Supernatural Life in Christ's Blood

Monday, March 15, 2010

Question:

It is Christ's death that saves us, not literally His blood; hence if He died on the cross with no blood being shed we would still be saved.

However, isn't Christ's sacrifice the perfect fulfillment of the OT and pagan animal sacrifices? But it was literally the shed blood that provided the temporary atonement and forgiveness, while the death of the animal was secondary. That blood was often sprinkled on the altar and on the people to cause the atonement, place on the door posts to save the Israelites, or drunk in the case of pagans; because as Leviticus tells us life is in the blood. This transference of life in the blood from animal to the human apparently was seen as healing and/or warding off the death caused by sin. Hence, shed blood was the necessary part of the sacrifice.

But we do see this played out in the drinking of Christ's blood in the Eucharist, of which Christ says Himself says that if we don not drink it we do not have Life within us (Jn 6:53). And Christ's life, which is supernatural life, is necessary for salvation.

So my question is this: Wouldn't it be accurate as the more perfect fulfillment of all the ancient prefigurements to say that Christ's death opened the door so-to-speak, but it the Life in His blood shed and shared with us that saves us?

Thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear PJ:

I fear that you are really obsessing on "what if" rather than focusing on "what is". There is a great danger in doing that as I described in a previous post.

God can fulfil his Salvation History any way He wants. He planned His Salvation History in a way that appeals to the sacramental nature of the human person.

Thus, "what is"? Christ died on that Cross for our sins to pay the penalty of eternal death that comes to the crime of sin. Jesus bled on the cross, but without His death the penalty would not have been paid as the penalty is death, not bleeding and remaining alive.

Christ's death opens the door for our salvation, but salvation is not guaranteed. Our salvation is actually procured, as a norm, through Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, and Eucharist. Jesus said "unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood..." This sacramental act is true and would be the Sacramental reality regardless of whether or not Jesus bled on the Cross as Blood is the symbol (sacrament) of life.

(John 6:53-57) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.

We must move on. Remember this is not a discussion board.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum