Sacrifice of the Mass Question

[jinc1019]

Hi,

I'm having a hard time understanding what the Roman Catholic Church teaches about the sacrifice of the Mass. I've read numerous Catholic apologetics, listened to debates, and read the Catechism's section on the Mass, but I still don't think I fully understand it.

The area of confusion is the sacrificial nature of the Mass. I understand Roman Catholic theology teaches the sacrifice at the Mass is a re-presentation of the once-for-all sacrifice Christ made on Calvary. What I don't understand is whether at the Mass a new OFFERING is made, or if it's also the same offering Christ made and the priest/laity somehow experience and partake of that offering (even though it happened 2,000 years ago).

The confusion arises because Catholics (and the CCC) have a tendency to say things as though there are many offerings and that the Mass offering is different from Christ's offering because it's unbloody. If it's a different offering, how does that fit with the passages of scripture in Hebrews that seems to say Christ offered himself once?

Perhaps it's possible "offering" and "sacrifice" mean the same thing in Catholic theology, which could also be throwing me off. Any help at all would be great. Thanks!

 

[LivingWordUnity]

It's not a new offering. It's the same offering that Jesus (God the Son), made on the cross. At the Mass, by the power of God, we are present at the foot of the cross, and the resurrection of Jesus is also made present to us. And we offer ourselves and offer up our own crosses at the Mass to join with the one eternal sacrifice that Jesus made for us to atone for the sins of the world.

 

[Michie]

This link should answer all your questions. It is brief and concise.

The Sacrifice of the Mass | Catholic Answers

 

[AvilaSurfer]

"Offer ourselves", and "offer our own crosses" are the keys.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Hi,

I'm having a hard time understanding what the Roman Catholic Church teaches about the sacrifice of the Mass.

Has the above helped you?

 

[JIMINZ]

This link should answer all of your questions, it is long and very complicated.

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Index for S

Just click (S) then scroll to, Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

[jinc1019]

It's not a new offering. It's the same offering that Jesus (God the Son), made on the cross. At the Mass, by the power of God, we are present at the foot of the cross, and the resurrection of Jesus is also made present to us. And we offer ourselves and offer up our own crosses at the Mass to join with the one eternal sacrifice that Jesus made for us to atone for the sins of the world.

Thanks for bringing this up. This is important. I understand the belief is Calvary is made present at Mass. The CCC is very clear on that point. But the CCC also says the priest "offers" Christ. How can this be if there is only one offering? Not arguing, just genuinely trying to understand the position.

 

[mark46]

"Offer ourselves", and "offer our own crosses" are the keys.

I have always taught that we are to present ourselves as living sacrifices as Saint Paul tells us to do in Romans.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Thanks for bringing this up. This is important. I understand the belief is Calvary is made present at Mass. The CCC is very clear on that point. But the CCC also says the priest "offers" Christ. How can this be if there is only one offering? Not arguing, just genuinely trying to understand the position.

How about 'makes present the once for all time offering'?

 

[jinc1019]

Hi All,

In another forum, the following post was left by a Catholic. I think his answer is excellent:

The sacrifice of the Mass in some respects Is the same as Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary and in some respects it is a new sacrifice.

The sacrifice of the Mass is the same as Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary because, with qualification, the “victim” being offered in both sacrifices is the same and the “priest” offering both sacrifices is the same. The “victim” in both cases is Jesus Christ with the qualification that Jesus was mortal when he was offered in sacrifice on Calvary but now when he is offered in sacrifice at Mass he is risen and glorified, immortal and impassible (incapable of being harmed in any way). The “priest” in both cases is also Jesus with the qualification that Jesus acted as priest alone on Calvary but now at Mass he acts through the Catholic priest; the Catholic priest acts in persona Christi.

The sacrifice of the Mass is a new sacrifice because the manner in which the “victim” is offered and because the date, time and location of the offerings are different. At Calvary, the “victim” was offered in a bloody manner, i.e., was killed; now at Mass, the “victim” is not killed but offered in an unbloody or unharmed manner, as a living sacrifice, like when in the Old Testament the entire tribe of Levi was offered as a living sacrifice to the Lord, as a wave offering. See Numbers 8:5-22.

It should be remembered that, wherever the risen Jesus now appears, such as when he is offered in sacrifice at Mass today, his sacrifice on Calvary is brought to mind (made present again, re-presented) because, though now risen from the dead and glorified, Jesus still bears the marks of his crucifixion in his flesh. See John 20:27; Revelation 5:6. Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary is brought to mind at the sacrifice of the Mass similar to the way a soldier’s wartime sacrifice of an arm, or leg or eye is brought to mind when people see him marching in uniform in a Veterans Day parade with an empty shirt sleeve or empty pant leg or eye patch. Jesus’ bloody sacrifice, i.e., his death, was a singular, unrepeatable event that occurred about 2000 years ago on the afternoon of the first Good Friday. Jesus’ unbloody sacrifice at Mass now, because he is not harmed in any way, is repeatable and has been repeated throughout Church history, fulfilling the prophesy of Malachi 1:11, “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Ancient Israel, the ancient pagans, and the early Christians, as Catholics today, all practiced some form of sacrificial worship, where a priest offered a food (or drink) sacrifice to a deity on a table or altar (or cup) dedicated to the deity and then those worshippers who wanted to receive the benefits of the sacrifice would eat (or drink) the sacrifices, partake of the table (or cup) of the deity. In the case of ancient Israel and early Christians, as Catholics today, the deity in question was the one true God; in the case of the ancient pagans it was their so-called gods and idols, which were really demons. St Paul briefly talks about this when he compares the sacrificial worship of ancient Israel, ancient pagans and early Christians in 1 Corinthians 10:14-22. The Passover feast of ancient Israel was a form of sacrificial worship, where the Passover lamb was first offered in sacrifice to God by a priest and then it was taken home to be eaten by those who wished to benefit from the sacrifice. That the Lord’s Supper of the early Christians (the Mass) was similar to the sacrificial worship of the Passover of ancient Israel can be seen in the words St Paul uses, when he compares Jesus to the Paschal (Passover) lamb, “For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed [in a bloody manner on Calvary long ago]. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival…[by eating that self-same lamb today]” (1 Corinthians 5:7b-8a) Because the “victim” at the sacrifice of the Mass today is the same as the “victim” at Calvary, namely, Jesus, those Christian worshippers who eat of the “victim” (Jesus) at Mass today receive not only the benefits of today’s unbloody sacrifice but also the benefits of Jesus’ bloody sacrifice on Calvary 2000 years ago. St Paul further said,

"The cup of blessing which we bless [at Mass today], is it not a participation in the blood of Christ [that was offered in sacrifice at Calvary]? The bread which we break [at Mass today], is it not a participation in the body of Christ [that was offered in sacrifice at Calvary]?" (1 Corinthians 10:16)

And,

"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord [today] in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the [same] body and blood of the Lord [that was offered in sacrifice at Calvary]." (1 Corinthians 11:27)​

 

[mark46]

Thanks for bringing this up. This is important. I understand the belief is Calvary is made present at Mass. The CCC is very clear on that point. But the CCC also says the priest "offers" Christ. How can this be if there is only one offering? Not arguing, just genuinely trying to understand the position.

We join ourselves with the one sacrifice linked to the masses where the sacrifice is being represented throughout the ages.

 

[Michie]

It's the same sacrifice.
The Sacrifice of the Mass | Catholic Answers

"What then? Do we not offer daily? Yes, we offer, but making rememberance of his death; and thus rememberance is one and not many. How is it one and not many? Because this sacrifice is offered once, like that in the Holy of Holies. This sacrifice is a type of that, and thus rememberance a type of that. We offer always the same, not one sheep now and another tomorrow, but the same thing always. Thus there is one sacrifice. By thus reasoning, since the sacrifice is offered everywhere, are there, then, a multiplicity of Christs? By no means! Christ is one everywhere. He is complete here, complete there, one body. And just as he is one body and not many though offered everywhere, do too is there one sacrifice." (Homilies on Hebrews 17:3 (6) [A.D. 403]).

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Understand that the Sacrifice of the Mass is a "Living Sacrifice."
It's not another crucifixion and death of Jesus.

Here's a part of the Eucharistic Prayer III from the GIRM

Father, calling to mind the death your Son endured for our salvation, his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.


God Bless
Jim

 

[PanDeVida]

Hi,

I'm having a hard time understanding what the Roman Catholic Church teaches about the sacrifice of the Mass. I've read numerous Catholic apologetics, listened to debates, and read the Catechism's section on the Mass, but I still don't think I fully understand it.

The area of confusion is the sacrificial nature of the Mass. I understand Roman Catholic theology teaches the sacrifice at the Mass is a re-presentation of the once-for-all sacrifice Christ made on Calvary. What I don't understand is whether at the Mass a new OFFERING is made, or if it's also the same offering Christ made and the priest/laity somehow experience and partake of that offering (even though it happened 2,000 years ago).

The confusion arises because Catholics (and the CCC) have a tendency to say things as though there are many offerings and that the Mass offering is different from Christ's offering because it's unbloody. If it's a different offering, how does that fit with the passages of scripture in Hebrews that seems to say Christ offered himself once?

Perhaps it's possible "offering" and "sacrifice" mean the same thing in Catholic theology, which could also be throwing me off. Any help at all would be great. Thanks!

Jinc, during the last supper in the upper room, when Our Lord told His 12 Apostles, this is my Body and this is My Blood, Was there a Bloody Sacrifice, present, during this First Mass?

Jinc, the answer is: NO! There was no Bloody Sacrifice present in the upper room / Mass, NOR is there a Bloody Sacrifice Present, during the Consecration of the Mass Ever Since, in every Catholic Church, on a daily bases, worldwide. Amen Amen

I Love my Catholic Faith! A Faith / Church founded on Rock where the Center Focus is the EUCHARIST, per Our Lord, where we Can Eat and Drink that we may have Life and be Raised on the Last Day. Amen Amen Where else can you get this True FOOD?