Christ died for all, but the effect of His Passion applies to many.
Sufficiency -- Christ died for all men without exception so that their sins may be forgiven.
From Sacred Scripture: “And He is the propitiation for our sins: not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 St. John 2:2)
From Holy Mother Church through St. Thomas Aquinas: “Christ by His Passion delivered us from our sins causally — that is, by setting up the cause of our deliverance, from which all cause of sins whatsoever, past, present and to come — could be forgiven: just as if a doctor were to prepare medicine by which all sickness can be cured even in the future.” (Summa Theologica, III, Q. 49, Art. 2).
Efficacy -- Christ’s Passion is efficacious only to those who are actually saved (and we know by faith that not all are saved).
From Sacred Scripture: “…Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.” (St. Matthew 25:41)
From Holy Mother Church at the Council of Trent: “The words ‘for you and for many’ are taken some from Matthew [26:28], some from Luke [14:24], but were joined together by Holy Church under the guidance of the Holy Ghost. They serve to declare the fruit and the utility of Our Lord’s Passion. For if we look to its value we must confess that the Redeemer shed His Blood for the salvation of all: but if we look to the fruit that man has received from it we shall easily understand that this pertains to many and not all. When, therefore, Our Lord said ‘for you’ He meant either those who were present or had been chosen by Him from among the Jewish people, such as the disciples (except Judas) with whom He was speaking. When He added ‘for many’ He wished to be understood to mean the rest of the elect among the Jews or Gentiles. Rightly, therefore were the words ‘for all’ not used, as in this place the fruits of the Passion alone are spoken of, and it is to the elect alone that His Passion brought the fruit of salvation.” (Catechismus ex decreto Consili Tridentini, para. 11, Caput IV, Section XXIV)
St. Thomas Aquinas summarizes it well: “As Christ’s Passion benefits all... it produces no effect except in those who are united with Christ’s Passion through faith and charity, so likewise this sacrifice [Holy Mass when it was still available to the Faithful], which is the memorial of Our Lord’s Passion, has no effect except in those who are united with this sacrament through faith and charity... Hence in the Canon of the Mass no prayer is made for them who are outside the pale of the Church.” (Summa Theologica, III Q. 79, Art. 7)
CALL TO ACTION: Beware of the double-speak, which justified putting “for all men” in the Novus Ordo Katholyc service.
Source: Special thanks to Cyril B. Andrade, M.D. (India) for his 1970 and 1972 papers, which exposed the invalidity of the Novus Ordo pseudo mass.
Photo by Josh Applegate