ESPIATION. – The act by which an offense and wrong done to the Divinity through sin is repaired (either by the sinner himself or by another in his place). Just as the idea of guilt, so too the idea of e. is found present, more or less purified of heterogeneous elements and operative in various ways (sacrifices, even bloody ones, ceremonies, ascetic and penitential practices such as fasts, flagellations, etc.) in all religions. E., in its fullest and most perfect concept, is proper only to Christianity. Christianity, in fact, worships in the great mystery of the Redemption the Son of God made man, who takes upon Himself all the sins of humanity and adequately repairs them; it causes Christians to offer, for the reception of its fruit, the cooperation of their works (prayers, alms, fasts, daily pains and sacrifices lovingly endured, etc.), which derive their expiatory value from the Redeemer, are offered by Him to the Father, and accepted by the Father (see therefore: CHRIST’S DEATH; INDULGENCES; MERIT; PENANCE; REDEMPTION; SACRIFICE; SATISFACTION).
For the religions of primitive peoples and of other civilized peoples, see the individual entries.