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Catechism of the Council of Trent
The two Gospel accounts (Matthew 26:28;
and Mark 14:24) which indicate for whom the Blood of Christ will be
shed (beyond the "for you" -- the apostles at the Last Supper -- of
Luke and First Corinthians) say it will be shed "for many." No account
says "for all." Beyond not being found in Sacred Scripture or
Tradition, the Catechism of the Council of Trent explains that the
words "for all" are not used in the consecration:
The additional words for you and for many, are taken, some from
Matthew, some from Luke, but were joined together by the Catholic Church under
the guidance of the Spirit of God. They serve to declare the fruit and
advantage of His 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 which mankind have received from it, we shall easily find that it
pertains not unto all, but to many of the human race....
With reason, therefore, were
the words for all not used, as in this place the fruits of the
Passion are alone spoken of, and to the elect only did His Passion bring the
fruit of salvation. And this is the purport of the Apostle when he says: Christ
was offered once to exhaust the sins of many; and also of the words of
our Lord in John: I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for
them whom thou hast given me, because they are thine (Hebrews ix:28;
John xvii: 9).1
The idea that all men will eventually be saved is known as
apokatastasis,2 and was condemned
by Pope Vigilius (537)3
If
anyone says or holds that the punishment of the demons and of impious men is
temporary, and that it will have an end at sometime, that is to say that there
will be a complete restoration of the demons or of impious men, let him be
anathema.
Sources:
1 Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part II,
chapt. 4, paragraph 24. Pg. 227 in the McHugh & Callan translation
available from TAN. www.cin.org/users/james/ebooks/master/trent/tsacr-e.htm
2 Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. "
apokatastasis" www.newadvent.org/cathen/01599a.htm
3 Denzinger 211.
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