Follow Up Question on Christology

Jesus Carrying the Cross

Dear Father,

Thank you so mutch to your answer regading my question about the two nature of Christ but I have a follo-up question,if the second person of the Devine Trenity felt pain and suffering and he was dying on the cross what happen to the first person and the Third Person of the Devine Thrinity also felt pain and suffering and die or not?

November 14, 2009 1:37 PM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

The Creed states that it is the Lord Jesus that suffered, died and was buried. Suffering and death are not attributed to the Person of the Father and the Holy Spirit. The First and the Third Person cannot experience pain and death because they didn't incarnate. So, physically speaking they didn't suffer and die.

However, the dogma of the Church also speaks of the deepest union of the Three Persons. They are so united with each other because they have One Being. Thus, the Father and the Holy Spirit was united in Christ during His Passion and Death by virtue of their one Divinity. How is that happening is beyond our knowledge because only the Spirit of God can fathom the depth of God [1 Cor 2:10]. That is a Mystery.

We know that the Father and the Spirit didn't suffer and die on the Cross. We also know that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are essentially united with one another. How can we conceive these two truth of faith is beyond our capacity.

November 14, 2009 1:55 PM