with regard to the eternal salvation of mankind, Christ’s afflictions were
not only not lacking but that they were superabundant (i.e., more than
enough) in value to save the whole world. Therefore, St. Paul and other
Christians who, through the communion of saints, offer up prayers, Masses
or alms as penance for the remission of others’ temporal punishment act as
temporal saviors only. They unite their praiseworthy actions to those of the
one eternal savior, Jesus Christ.
The Fathers
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Philadelphians 3 (c. 107 AD)
“For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop.
And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of
the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to
Jesus Christ.”
St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Lapsed 17 (251 AD)
“The Lord alone is able to have mercy. He alone, who bore our sins, who
grieved for us, and whom God delivered up for our sins, is able to grant
pardon for the sins which have been committed against Him ... Certainly
we believe that the merits of the martyrs and the works of the just will be of
great avail with the Judge––but that will be when the day of judgment
comes, when, after the end of this age and of the world, His people shall
stand before the tribunal of Christ.”
St. Cyprian of Carthage, Letters 9, 2 (c. 253 AD)
“…sinners may do penance for a set time, and according to the rules of
discipline come to public confession, and by imposition of the hand of the
bishop and clergy receive the right of communion.”
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