redemptio
Redemption
Christ's saving work, above all his death and Resurrection, by which he “buys back” humanity from slavery to sin and death; the Redeemer is one of his oldest titles.
a buying back
To redeem was to pay the price that set a slave or captive free. Scripture uses the image for God freeing Israel from Egypt and then for Christ, who “gave his life as a ransom for many.” The Catechism teaches that Christ's death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes our definitive redemption and the sacrifice of the New Covenant that restores us to communion with God, and that it is in Christ's whole life — not the Passion alone — that redemption comes to us. It is offered to every human being.
Councils
Where the Church settled or debated this. Follow a council to read our article on it, or the decrees themselves.
- 1545–1563Council of Trentthe decrees
Sources checked 29 September 2026