# A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion/Fourth Article

The Fourth Article.
'Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. '
(See Short Hist, of Revealed Rel., 25, 26.)
1. What does the Fourth Article of the Creed teach us?
It teaches us that Jesus Christ suffered for us, died on the cross, and was laid in the grave.
2. Did Christ really die?
Yes; His soul was truly separated from His body.
3. Why did Christ will to be buried?
In order that His death might be the more undeniable, and His resurrection the more glorious and credible.
4. Did Christ suffer as God or as man?
Christ suffered as man—that is, according to His human nature.
5. Was Christ compelled to suffer death?
​No; Christ suffered death of His own free will; ' He was offered, because it was His own will ' (Isaias liii. 7).
'I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself for me' (Gal. ii. 20; comp. John x. 17, 18, and xviii. 4-9).
6. Why was it the will of Christ to suffer and die?
In order to satisfy the Divine Justice for our sins, and thereby to redeem and save us (p. 100, q. 91-93),
By His voluntary obedience unto the death of the cross Christ has given full, nay, superabundant satisfaction to the Divine Majesty for the manifold offences given to Him by our disobedience, and thus He has redeemed us from the eternal punishment which we had deserved. Therefore St. Paul says (Rom. V. 19): 'As by the disobedience of one man [Adam], many were made sinners; so also by the obedience of One [Jesus Christ], many shall be made just.' And St. Peter (1 Pet. ii. 22, 24): 'Who did no sin, who His own self bore our sins in His body upon the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice; by whose stripes you were healed.' And Isaias (liii. 4, 5): 'Surely He hath borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows. But He was wounded for our iniquities, He was bruised for our sins. '
7. For what sins has Christ given satisfaction?
'For the sins of the whole world' (1 John ii. 2) — namely, for original sin and all the other sins of mankind.
8. Why could no one but Christ make full reparation for our sins?
Because the offence given to the infinite Majesty of God demanded a satisfaction of infinite value, which Christ alone was able to give.
'No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom. Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labor for ever, and shall still live unto the end' (Ps. xlviii. 8, 9).
9. Why is the satisfaction of Christ of infinite value?
It is of infinite value because a Divine Person made it; for the greater the dignity of the person who satisfies, the greater also is the value and merit of the satisfaction.
​10. Was it necessary for a perfect satisfaction that Christ should suffer such indescribable torments?
No; for even the least suffering of a God-Man would in itself have been satisfactory, because each of His works is of infinite value.
11. Why, then, would He suffer so much?
In order that we might better realize the greatness of His love, and of the punishment which sin deserves; and also that we might bear our cross the more patiently,
12. From what has Christ redeemed us by his sufferings and death?
He has redeemed us, 1. From sin; and 2. From eternal damnation, which we have deserved by sin.
1. 'He hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood' (Apoc. i. 5). 2. 'God hath not appointed us unto wrath [damnation], but unto the purchasing of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us' (1 Thess. v. 9, 10).
13. What more has Christ gained for us through His sufferings and death?
He has, 1. Reconciled us with God; 2. Reopened Heaven to us; and 3. Merited abundant graces for us, in order to enable us to lead a holy life and to obtain eternal happiness.
1. 'When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son' (Rom. v. 10). 2. 'Having therefore, brethren, a confidence in the entering into the Holies [Heaven] by the blood of Christ; a new and living way which He hath dedicated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh' (Hebr. X. 19, 20). 3. 'God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places [things] in Christ, . . . according to the riches of His grace, which hath superabounded in us' (Eph, i. 3, 7, 8; comp. Rom. v. 15-21).
14. Has Christ merited grace and eternal salvation for those only who are really saved?
No; He has merited it for all men without exception, as He died also for all without exception (2 Cor. v. 14, 15).
'Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a redemption for all' (1 Tim. ii. 6).
​15. If Christ has merited eternal salvation for all men, why, then, are not all saved?
Because not all do, on their part, what is necessary for obtaining salvation; that is, because they do not all believe, keep the Commandments, and use the means of grace.
'He [Christ] became to all that obey Him the cause of eternal salvation' (Hebr. v. 9).— Example of St. Paul (Col. i. 24). 'He who made you without your concurrence, will not save you without it' (St. Augustine).
Application. Oh! that you would never forget how much Jesus has loved you, and what He has suffered for you. For out of mercy, and 'for His exceeding charity wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins' (Eph. ii. 4, 5), He has redeemed us through His most bitter Passion and death, and has placed us in the kingdom of His grace. Let this charity of Christ urge you to live unto Him who died for you, and rose again (2 Cor. V. 14, 15). (Devotion to the Sufferings of Christ; the Way of the Cross, or Stations; Visiting the Holy Sepulchre in Holy-week; Abstinence on Fridays, etc.)