Well, let me start by saying that the name “Paschal” comes from the Latin word “paschalis,” which means “pertaining to Passover.” The term “Paschal” is often used to refer to the Passover festival and the events surrounding it.
In the biblical story of the Exodus, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt under the rule of Pharaoh. God, through Moses, led the Israelites out of Egypt and towards the Promised Land. However, before they could leave, God inflicted ten plagues upon Egypt as a way to demonstrate his power and demand the release of his people.
The tenth and final plague was the most devastating of all. God declared that he would send an angel of death to strike down the firstborn of every household in Egypt, both of man and beast. However, God also provided a way for the Israelites to be spared from this terrible plague.
God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to take a lamb, one without blemish, and slaughter it on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month. They were to take some of the lamb’s blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of their houses. This act of marking their homes with the lamb’s blood would serve as a sign for the angel of death to pass over their households and spare them.
This event became known as the Passover, as it marked the moment when God’s judgment “passed over” the homes of the Israelites. The lamb’s blood served as a symbol of redemption and protection, as it was through the blood of the lamb that the Israelites were saved from death.
The Passover festival was then established as a yearly commemoration of this miraculous event. It became a time for the Israelites to remember their deliverance from slavery and to celebrate their freedom. The word “Paschal” is often used to refer to this festival and the associated rituals and traditions.
Throughout history, the term “Paschal” has been used to describe various aspects of the Passover celebration. It can refer to the Paschal lamb, which is the lamb that is sacrificed and eaten during the Passover meal. It can also refer to the Paschal feast, which is the festive meal shared by family and friends to commemorate the Exodus.
In Christian theology, the term “Paschal” has taken on additional meaning. It is used to describe the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which Christians believe fulfilled the symbolism of the Passover. Jesus is seen as the ultimate Paschal lamb, whose blood was shed for the redemption and salvation of humanity.
So, in summary, the term “Paschal” is used to refer to the Passover festival and the events surrounding it. It originated from the biblical story of the Exodus, where the Israelites marked their homes with the blood of a lamb to be saved from the angel of death. The word has since been used to describe various aspects of the Passover celebration and has taken on additional meaning in Christian theology.