The Sacrifice of
the Mass
181.
What
is the Mass?
The
Mass is the sacrifice of the New Law in which Christ, through the
ministry of the priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner
under the appearances of bread and wine.
For,
from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great
among the Gentiles; and in every place there is sacrifice and there
is offered to my name a clean oblation. (Malachi 1:11)
182.
What
is a sacrifice?
A
sacrifice is the offering of a victim by a priest to God alone, and
the destruction of it in some way to acknowledge that He is the
Creator of all things.
183.
Who
is the principal priest in every Mass?
The
principal priest in every Mass is Jesus Christ, who offers to His
heavenly Father, through the ministry of His ordained priest, His
body and blood which were sacrificed on the cross.
And
having taken bread, he gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to
them, saying, "This is my body, which is being given for you; do
this in remembrance of me." In like manner he took also the cup
after the supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which shall be shed for you." (Luke 22:19-20)
184.
Why
is the Mass the same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the cross?
The
Mass is the same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the cross because in
the Mass the victim is the same, and the principal priest is the
same, Jesus Christ.
185.
What
are the purposes for which the Mass is offered?
The
purposes for which the Mass is offered are: first, to adore God as
our Creator and Lord; second, to thank God for His many favors;
third, to ask God to bestow His blessings on all men; fourth, to
satisfy the justice of God for the sins committed against Him.
186.
Is
there any difference between the sacrifice of the cross and the
Sacrifice of the Mass?
The
manner in which the sacrifice is offered is different. On the cross
Christ physically shed His blood and was physically slain, while in
the Mass there is no physical shedding of blood nor physical death,
because Christ can die no more; on the cross Christ gained merit and
satisfied for us, while in the Mass He applies to us the merits and
satisfaction of His death on the cross.
For
we know that Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more,
death shall no longer have dominion over him. (Romans 6:9)
187.
How
should we assist at Mass?
We should assist at Mass with reverence, attention, and devotion.
188.
What
is the best method of assisting at Mass?
The
best method of assisting at Mass is to unite with the priest in
offering the Holy Sacrifice, and to receive Holy Communion.
189.
How
can we best unite with the priest in offering the Holy Sacrifice?
We
can best unite with the priest in offering the Holy Sacrifice by
joining in mind and heart with Christ, the principal Priest and
Victim, by following the Mass in a missal, and by reciting or
chanting the responses.
190.
Who
said the first Mass?
Our
Divine Savior said the first Mass, at the Last Supper, the night
before He died.