“Now if, because of our sins also which were as yet in the future, but were foreseen, the soul of Christ became sorrowful unto death, it cannot be doubted that then, too, already He derived somewhat of solace from our reparation, which was likewise foreseen, when “there appeared to Him an angel from heaven” (Luke xxii, 43), in order that His Heart, oppressed with weariness and anguish, might find consolation.” – Miserentissimus Redemptor, Pope Pius XI
What is Reparation?
Reparation is a type of prayer whereby the Christian makes satisfaction for the sins of men in the world. This is a type of prayer where we united ourselves to the redemptive work of Christ. “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church:” – 1 Colossians 24.
As with all our prayers, our prayers of reparation derive their benefit from the eternal sacrifice of Christ on calvary, a reality made present on our altars at every Mass.
“We must ever remember that the whole virtue of the expiation depends on the one bloody sacrifice of Christ, which without intermission of time is renewed on our altars in an unbloody manner, “For the victim is one and the same, the same now offering by the ministry of priests, who then offered Himself on the cross, the manner alone of offering being different” (Council of Trent, Session XXIII, Chapter 2).” – Miserentissimus Redemptor, Pope Pius XI
Reparation is Necessary
“The duty of reparation and expiation by a certain more valid title of justice and of love, of justice indeed, in order that the offense offered to God by our sins may be expiated and that the violated order may be repaired by penance: and of love too so that we may suffer together with Christ suffering and “filled with reproaches” (Lam. iii, 30), and for all our poverty may offer Him some little solace.” – Miserentissimus Redemptor, Pope Pius XI
