Confused about how the Sacrifice of the Mass works

[WoundedIcon]

I understand and believe that it is truly a re-presentative sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, but how does it work? As someone from a Protestant background I would just assume that the event happened once and the graces and merits earned by it would be handed out at the moment of faith and carry us along, so the whole idea of the Mass being an application of said sacrifice kind of confuses me. And, being Calvary, why aren’t its effects infinite? And why is there a distinction drawn between the sacrifice and sacrament, where I could have a Mass offered for me and not have to partake of the sacrificial meal in order for those benefits to be applied - because I see a parallel between how pagans felt the need to eat of a sacrifice in order to obtain the benefits of it and our sacrifice. Actually, it seems like a common religious consensus in all of history, among Jews, Christians, and pagans. Also, it remits sins… but so do penances and indulgences…

Clearly something foundational in my understanding is throwing my logic off. I tried to read the Catholic Encyclopedia, but it just confuses me more.

 

[The_Scott]

“When you see the Lord immolated and lying upon the altar, and the priest bent over that sacrifice praying, and all the people empurpled by that precious blood, can you think that you are still among men and on earth? Or are you not lifted up to heaven?” - John Chrysostom (The Priesthood 3:4:177 [A.D. 387]).

You may also want to take a look here: ewtn.com/faith/teachings/euchb1a.htm

and here: therealpresence.org/eucharst/link/e-litur.html

Sorry for not answering the question myself. I feel like the quote from John Chrysostom above is perfect; John says, I believe, that Heaven is present - “opened up,” if you will - in that moment of the Mass.

How does that happen? I’m not sure if I can answer that without going into deep theological research. Maybe the links above can help you understand.

 

[NotWorthy]

I think its less important to understand “how” it happens and more important simply to understand that “it is to happen”.

This is something I saw that explains what I mean:

During the Last Supper, the Lord said to his disciples, “Do this in memory of me.” In Greek, this statement reads, “Touto poieite eis tan eman anamnesin.” There are two aspects of this phrase that deserve consideration. For one, the phrase *touto poieite *can be translated as *do this *or as *offer this. *In the Old Testament, God commands the Israelites “you shall offer (poieseis) upon the altar two lambs” (Ex. 29:38). **This use of *poiein ***is translated as *offer this *or *sacrifice this *over seventy times in the Old Testament. So the same word that is used for the sacrifice under the Old Covenant is used for the sacrifice of the Mass in the New.

The second key aspect of this phrase is Our Lord’s use of the word *anamnesin. *If you were to ask someone to look in a Greek Translation of their Bible, every time this word (anamnesis) appears it is within a sacrificial context, such as in Numbers 10:10, “…you shall blow the trumpets over your holocausts and your peace offerings; this will serve as a reminder of you before your God. I, the LORD, am your God". It also can be translated as *memorial offering *or memorial sacrifice. While these nuances are lost in the English translation, Jewish ears would have understood the sacrificial meaning of Christ’s words.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

There’s a reason it’s called a mystery.

 

[jimrob]

How it works confuses us all. Jesus didn’t tell us how it works, he just commanded us to do it.

 

[Kerry77]

Very interesting post. I notice you are a convert. One thing I have noticed from my perusal of message boards and the like, is that converts are often very well-versed in the faith, which is wonderful! However, on this question, for now while you are trying to figure it out more, I would just suggest that you let yourself feel for a while. (This might be a benefit of being a cradle Catholic, although one could argue that the cradle Catholics perhaps don’t think enough. Always a balance.)

Give yourself into the Mass, it is a love relationship, one where you just want to be with the person, who is Jesus our God. Don’t worry so much about understanding what is happening on a purely intellectual level, think of it as entering into God’s love for us. Let the words flow over you and take them in, be in the Real Presence. Think less, feel more

 

[promethius]

I understand and believe that it is truly a re-presentative sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, but how does it work? As someone from a Protestant background I would just assume that the event happened once and the graces and merits earned by it would be handed out at the moment of faith and carry us along, so the whole idea of the Mass being an application of said sacrifice kind of confuses me.

For this, I would suggest you read Scott Hahn’s Book, “The Lamb’s Supper: Mass as Heaven on Earth”. He goes into great detail to describe, using the book of Revelation, how Mass is one and the same with eternal worship in heaven. In other words, in the mass we are joined with the saints worshipping eternally in heaven, and since heaven is outside of time, we join in with the eternal Final Passover of the Christ on the Cross. We are joined with every mass that has ever occured… including the Last Supper.

And, being Calvary, why aren’t its effects infinite? And why is there a distinction drawn between the sacrifice and sacrament, where I could have a Mass offered for me and not have to partake of the sacrificial meal in order for those benefits to be applied - because I see a parallel between how pagans felt the need to eat of a sacrifice in order to obtain the benefits of it and our sacrifice.

I’m not exactly sure what you’re getting at with “why the effects aren’t infinite?” They are.

As to the pagan bit: that’s a modern change. In the more ancient world, pagans would never DREAM of eating a sacrifice for a God. Judaism was the one that introduced sacrifice in which God demanded we partake in a communion of sorts (eating the lamb) and that only in so joining could we partake in the sacrifice. Christians, obviously, continued this in our own (perfected) form, and pagans have recently started the same idea as a result. Not vice-versa.

Actually, it seems like a common religious consensus in all of history, among Jews, Christians, and pagans. Also, it remits sins… but so do penances and indulgences…

Actually, a minor correction: penances and indulgences do NOT remit sins, they only remit the temporal PUNISHMENT for sin (in other words, they eliminate time spent in purgatory if one has had those same sins forgiven… if those sins are NOT forgiven, then all the penance and indulgence will not save the soul).

The forgiveness of sins comes through perfect contrition (rare), reconciliation, and (for venial sins) through the Eucharist.

 

[johnnykins]

I understand and believe that it is truly a re-presentative sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, but how does it work?

Through the power of God. beyond that, it’s all speculation.

As someone from a Protestant background I would just assume that the event happened once

in time it did - but it also happened in eternity - past, future and present, i.e., outside time and space.

and the graces and merits earned by it would be handed out at the moment of faith and carry us along, so the whole idea of the Mass being an application of said sacrifice kind of confuses me.

by happening in eternity - the great NOW, as it were, - the graces and merits are “handed out” in eternity. The prevenient grace of God “hands them out” always not just at the moment of the faith - though then, too. Yet, the Mass as an intersection of time and eternity also has a special place much like that time on Calvary has a special place, though it is also timeless. WE are bound by time in this life - so there is a point where things happen in our limited field of vision. BUT, for God, all time is a present; there is no time as such and when we attend Mass we are there at a particular time in our lives, yet we also touch the Eternal through the power of God acting through the priest at the Altar.

And, being Calvary, why aren’t its effects infinite?

They are.

And why is there a distinction drawn between the sacrifice and sacrament,

the sacrifice is the eternal sacrifice of Christ; the sacrament is the temporal participation/attendance at that eternal event

where I could have a Mass offered for me and not have to partake of the sacrificial meal in order for those benefits to be applied - because I see a parallel between how pagans felt the need to eat of a sacrifice in order to obtain the benefits of it and our sacrifice.

We’re not pagans - and the benefits flow from God not from our actions - it is truly a gift - though we do claim it, i.e., “cooperate,” moreso in its salvific power when we truly participate in the sacrifice by our communion -by eating and drinking worthily of the Body and Blood of God our Savior.

Actually, it seems like a common religious consensus in all of history, among Jews, Christians, and pagans.

God is not limited by our participation or lack thereof

Also, it remits sins… but so do penances and indulgences…

God remits sins, true. God does it in many ways. YIPEEE!!!

BTW indulgences do no remit sins - only the the temporal punishment for sins. Think of it this way: by the good deeds, prayers and selfless love of others for us, we become actually better; we become more Christlike; more perfect. Christ has forgiven us, but we still need to actually BE Christlike and indulgences reflect that actual improvement beyond Christ’s forgiveness.

Clearly something foundational in my understanding is throwing my logic off. I tried to read the Catholic Encyclopedia, but it just confuses me more.

Of course! Who can truly understand God this side of eternity??