Is the Liturgy or Mass a sacrifice?

“Paisios” said:

Father, if I might ask a follow up question, though somewhat tangential to my original inquiry...

Can you explain how the Eucharist is an offering or sacrifice to God? I know this is the teaching not only of the Orthodox, but also Rome and Canterbury, but I have never quite understood that. It has always seemed to me that it is a sacrifice of and from God to us, in which we are invited to partake.

Thank you for any clarification you can offer...

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ArmyMatt said:

it becomes the Body and Blood that was offered on the Cross, which we offer by tapping into that one eternal event.

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“Paisios” said:

Thank you. I take up far too much of your time, and am grateful that you continue to respond to my endless questions.

Becoming the Body and Blood I kind of understand, that it was offered on the Cross I kind of understand, but I am still not clear on “offering it by tapping into that eternal event”...are you saying in the Eucharist that His sacrifice is given back to Himself? Would we then both receive and offer, since He sacrificed Himself for us?

Pardon my confusion and lack of understanding. I find this a difficult concept to grasp.

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ArmyMatt said:

yes, Christ is both the offerer and the offered, the object of sacrifice, the priest Who sacrifices, and the God Who receives the sacrifice.

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Markie Boy said:

So I'm just struggling with Catholicism in all kinds of ways, and have developed a habit of checking with the EO on many things.

In reading early writings like the Didache, it's mentioned "so that your sacrifice may be pure", and in a Catholic Mass the priest mentions "your sacrifice and mine" to the congregation.

I asked our priest what part was my sacrifice and he didn't have a good answer. I know we are supposed to offer ourselves as living sacrifices - all we do and say. At a divine liturgy what's the sacrifice?

This is from the Didache:

Sunday Worship
On the Lord’s day, come together, break bread and give thanks, having first confessed your sins, so that your sacrifice may be pure. Anyone who has a dispute with another, must not join your assembly until they have been reconciled, so that your sacrifice may not be defiled, for this is the sacrifice spoken of by the Lord: ‘”In every place and at every time offer me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great king,” says the Lord, “and My name is wonderful among the nations.’”‘


Is this sacrifice mentioned the Eucharist, or is it our lives and how we live. It doesn't seem so clear to me. Also the Didache doesn't really mention priests, but "the president". I guess my lack of trust in Catholicism is opening all kinds of questions.

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Markie Boy said:

I asked our priest what part was my sacrifice and he didn't have a good answer. I know we are supposed to offer ourselves as living sacrifices - all we do and say. At a divine liturgy what's the sacrifice?

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