Salvation in Catholicism - Salvation of The Human Race

Salvation of The Human Race

Catholic theology defends and explains questions of the possibility of the salvation of mankind or upon its appropriateness (according to Catholic belief, since God has done as such, it must be both possible and appropriate). Catholic theology believes that after God had freely determined to save the human race, He might have done so by pardoning man's sins without having recourse to the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Still, the Incarnation of the Word is believed to be the most fitting means for the salvation of man, and, according to Catholicism, was even necessary, in case God claimed full satisfaction for the injury done to him by sin (see incarnation). Though the office of Saviour is really one, it is virtually multiple: there must be an atonement for sin and damnation, an establishment of the truth so as to overcome human ignorance and error, a perennial source of spiritual strength aiding man in his struggle against darkness and concupiscence. From the Catholic perspective, there can be no doubt that Jesus Christ really fulfilled these three functions, that He therefore really saved mankind from sin and its consequences: as teacher He established the reign of truth; as king He supplied strength to His subjects; as priest He stood between heaven and earth, reconciling sinful man with God the Father.