Passion, Death, and Resurrection

Christ gives His life and conquers death

This stage presents the center of the Christian faith: the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus goes up to Jerusalem, celebrates the Last Supper, prays in Gethsemane, is handed over, condemned, crucified, buried, and rises on the third day.

The Passion shows the obedient love of Christ toward the Father and His self-gift for the salvation of humanity. At the Last Supper He sacramentally anticipates His body given up and His blood poured out. On the cross He takes upon Himself sin and opens the way of reconciliation. The resurrection manifests the definitive victory of God over sin and death.

You will learn to

Understand the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as the beginning of His paschal hour.

Recognize the Last Supper as the institution of the Eucharist.

Identify Gethsemane as a place of prayer and filial obedience.

Understand the trial, the condemnation, and the crucifixion of Jesus.

Recognize the cross as a redemptive self-gift.

Understand the real burial of Jesus.

Identify the empty tomb and the appearances of the Risen One.

Recognize the resurrection as victory over sin and death.

Discover the Passover of Christ as the center of all Salvation History.

Understand that the Christian life springs from the death and resurrection of the Lord.

How this stage is organized

Main narrative

The Gospels of the Passion and resurrection

You will come to know the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the prayer in Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas, Peter's denials, the trial before the authorities, the condemnation by Pilate, the crucifixion at Golgotha, the death of Jesus, His burial, the empty tomb, and the appearances of the Risen One.

Doctrinal understanding

Cross · Redemption · Resurrection · New life

You will grasp that the death of Jesus is not a meaningless failure, but a free and redemptive self-gift. The cross reveals the love of God and accomplishes reconciliation. The resurrection confirms the identity of Jesus, conquers death, and opens for believers a new life.

Scripture in depth

Passover · The Servant of the Lord · Psalms

Other biblical texts help us understand the Passover of Christ. The Exodus illumines Jesus as the paschal Lamb. Isaiah presents the Servant who bears the sins of many. The Psalms express the suffering of the just one and trust in God. Saint Paul sums up the apostolic proclamation: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose on the third day.

Fulfilled in Christ

Paschal mystery · Eucharist · Hope

In Christ, the Passover reaches its fullness. His death and resurrection are the center of Salvation History. The Eucharist makes His self-gift sacramentally present. Baptism unites the believer with His death and resurrection. The Christian life springs from the Passover and journeys toward the hope of the final resurrection.

Choose a mode

Path mode

Move step by step, in the recommended order.

Review mode

Shuffled questions to review and gauge your progress.

Group mode

A moderated session, reserved for catechists and teachers.