What Is Redemption: How Christ’s Suffering Saves Us

by Philippe de la Trinité

For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is central to the Catholic Faith. But how does the murder of the eternal Son of God by human beings lead to their redemption, not further damnation? During the sixteenth century, as Protestants rejected Catholic doctrine, a new answer to this question was on the Cross, God the Father subjected His divine Son to the wrath and retribution sinful humanity justly deserved. Having punished His Son in the place of sinners and having exhausted His pent-up anger, the Father could then turn to humanity in love and mercy. This theory—known as "penal substitutionary atonement" —caught on in many Catholic circles and is often the popular understanding of the Cross. Thank God for What Is Redemption? by Philippe de la Trinité, a classic now back in print. This book shows the many fallacies in the penal substitutionary theory of redemption. But that's not all. Trinité replaces this mistaken theory with the true Catholic doctrine. In dialogue with the saints and doctors of the Church, chiefly St. Thomas Aquinas, he shows why St. John in his Gospel said it was for love—not for wrath—that God sent His only-begotten Son. Carefully distinguishing the key concepts in the doctrine of redemption, he explains the difference between saying that Christ made satisfaction for the sins of the world and saying that Christ suffered the punishment due to every sin. The Cross is not an oppression, but an exaltation—a triumph of divine love.

Genres: Theology, Catholic, Philosophy, Religion, Nonfiction

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2021

Reviews

[Mendo Ataíde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to understand the source of our redemption and Christ’s death on the Cross. All out of the merciful love of God through a Vicarious Satisfaction for our sin, not as a scapegoat nor as any due repayment for the Father to unleash His wrath on the Son.
Scott Hahn says it was a fundamental book for him when he was studying.

[Chuanhiang Proton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master piece on God’s love

One of the best books to know God’s love and Christ’s redemption in the most profound manner. Your heart will surrender to this love while reading it.

[Alan A · Rating 5 out of 5]

One big take away: ''Vicarious Satisfaction.''

Fr. Philippe really exemplifies both the Church but also the Thomistic soteriology in this book. I cannot exhaust myself in all the details. But contrary to the teachings of Luther and Calvin, the author presents us with the Catholic Church and exhorts the most beautiful and profound message of redemption. Read it.

[Elijah Newcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little work on the subtle yet crucial distinctions between Penal Substitutionary Atonement and the ever more beautiful and true Vicarious Satisfaction theory of atonement.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicarious Satisfaction (true) vs. Penal Substitution (false)