Jesus’ Sacrificial Death
 
	 It is our Christian belief that Jesus died for our sins, that is: that
		his death was the highest expression of his love. The whole of Jesus’ life
		was a gift of love to the Father, and this ‘sacrifice’ would have
		fully redeemed us, even if Jesus had not shed a drop of blood. 
	 In the early Middle Ages a more violent theology arose, the medieval
		‘satisfaction theory’. This theory stated that the forgiveness of
		sins required a bloody sacrifice and that therefore God the Father himself
		demanded that his Son should die a bloody sacrificial death. 
	 This view is not correct and is no longer accepted by the Church. To
		understand why it is not correct, read the following documents: 
	  
		Did God want to see Blood?
 a refutation
		  of the medieval satisfaction theory based on St. John’s Gospel. 
		Did God demand bloody satisfaction?
 a
		  reflection on the Old Testament background and on psychological implications.
		   
		Is God a Dictator?
 putting the whole
		  discussion within the wider perspective of how God deals with people. 
	  
	 Understanding the medieval satisfaction theory has relevance to
		Mariology. Since some theologians believed God had decreed Jesus’
		sacrificial death by an absolute decree, they were convinced that Jesus’
		sacrificial death was God’s absolute will. Mary, being in total accord
		with God’s will, was therefore believed to have also wanted Jesus’
		bloody death. This explains some strange expressions about Mary, e.g. that she
		would, if necessary, have nailed Jesus to the cross with her own hands,
		and-so-on. The same applied to priestly spirituality. Priests too were expected
		to interiorly agree with God's demand for Jesus’ suffering! 
	 The point in our research about the ordination of women is that
		throughout the ages theologians and spiritual writers saw Mary actively
		involved in Jesus' sacrificial death, as an officiating priest. 
	  
		 
		  Overview of documents in this
			 section  
		 
		 
		   
			  
				 
				  
 
 
 Tradition 
				  Mary - why a priest?  
				  Theologians and writers 
				  Picture gallery  
				  Mary and Holy Orders 
				  Mary as sacrificial priest 
				  Mary, the model of priests 
				 
			 
  
		 
		 
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