Mary as a part of the Eucharist and an offerer of it is in a mystical way not a sacramental way. She is not a priest offering a sacrifice, she is a part of the sacrifice in that Jesus is of her and an offerer in that she gave her motherly consent and assisted by standing at the foot of the cross. That’s how I understand it.I found this on the vatican’s website: “Mary remains with Christ in some mysterious way in the Eucharist and is, after him, the “chief offerer” of the Eucharistic Sacrifice”. Link
I was always taught that Jesus, the High Priest, was the chief offerer and the priest was the secondary offerer. How does Our Lady fit into that?
Thanks! I think I understand it now. She is offering Jesus up to actively participate in the Redemption as proper to Her role. I like how you put things, if you would comment of Pope Benedict XV’s letter where he says “for the salvation of mankind she renounced her mother’s rights and, as far as it depended on her, offered her Son to placate divine justice”. I’m a bit confused how renouncing her rights and offering her son helped save man kind. Thanks and God Bless!Mary as a part of the Eucharist and an offerer of it is in a mystical way not a sacramental way. She is not a priest offering a sacrifice, she is a part of the sacrifice in that Jesus is of her and an offerer in that she gave her motherly consent and assisted by standing at the foot of the cross. That’s how I understand it.
Thank you for your kind words. I’m using the line of thinking from some of the great Saints concerning Mary’s part in the salvific economy.Thanks! I think I understand it now. She is offering Jesus up to actively participate in the Redemption as proper to Her role. I like how you put things, if you would comment of Pope Benedict XV’s letter where he says “for the salvation of mankind she renounced her mother’s rights and, as far as it depended on her, offered her Son to placate divine justice”. I’m a bit confused how renouncing her rights and offering her son helped save man kind. Thanks and God Bless!
Those questions deserve more than a quick reply here. I recommend to your reading: “The Glories of Mary” by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri and “True Devotion to Mary” by St. Louis Marie de Montfort. As men of their age they use the language of their day, which may sound a bit overly flowery to us (although I found it delightful, but that’s me). Not everything they have to say is to be taken as dogma, but they had wonderful insights into Mary’s place in the redemption and the life of the Church. Just read their words and let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart as you do. Both are spiritual reading of the highest order. And look into the writings of St. Maximillian Kolbe on Mary, too–very profound and enlightening.That makes a lot of sense. She could have asked that Jesus not be crucified? Wow, I didn’t realize that. I did read in a book the if the executioners didn’t want to crucify Jesus, Mary would have done because it was the will of God. Could you shed light upon how Mary’s offering herself contributed to the Redemption of Man. Pope John Paul said Mary’s sufferings were “mysteriously and supernaturally fruitful”. I’m guessing that means we don’t know how her sufferings helped? Have the saints talked about this? Thanks again.
The Saints in Heaven participate in every Mass. And just how do they participate? In Love of course. And if love is self-sacrifice, and does not end, there must be some way in which this sacrifice is an on-going thing for the sake of His Body, the Church.Can someone explain" “As it is the Lord who offers and is offered in every Eucharist, and who, in and with himself, offers the sacrifice of praise of his entire Body, so, in him and with him, Mary offers and is offered in each Eucharistic celebration in that utterly unique way that reflects her role in the redemption her Son achieved for her and for all of us”. Is Mary offered at Mass?
Yes she is offered at Mass, but then all of us are. We are all offered as a “living sacrifice” to God. Mary’s role, however, is unique in that she cooperated with the redemption of man as no one else ever did or ever could. Her place is utterly unique since Christ was incarnated from her body–her flesh and blood.Can someone explain" “As it is the Lord who offers and is offered in every Eucharist, and who, in and with himself, offers the sacrifice of praise of his entire Body, so, in him and with him, Mary offers and is offered in each Eucharistic celebration in that utterly unique way that reflects her role in the redemption her Son achieved for her and for all of us”. Is Mary offered at Mass?
Right, except I would use the term “perpetual” rather than “never ending” for the offering of Jesus’ and Mary’s sacrifice. After all, when the world ends there will be no more sacrifices offered on any altars because all will be fulfilled in Christ.I think I got it. The Priest offers Jesus to God at Mass, making present His sacrifice. Mary’s sacrifice is also made present just as Jesus’ sacrifice is. Jesus offers and is offered “in and with himself” but Mary offers and is offered “in and with Jesus”. The Popes have said Jesus’ sacrifice is inseparable from Mary’s sorrows. So since Jesus is offered, Mary is offered but in an secondary and consequent way. Without Jesus being offered, Mary would not be offered. I guess you could say she is “indirectly” offered? Does that sound correct? I read that within the cross there are two altars, Jesus’ and Mary’s. Mary gained for us merits de congruo what Jesus gained for us de condigno. So if Jesus is Mary’s sacrifice and Mary’s sufferings are totally untied to Jesus’ suffering would Mary’s sacrifice of offering Jesus and herself be never ending like Jesus’ sacrifice is? Do these sound right? Thanks.
I think the wording close enough to mean the same thing, but then I’m not one to parse words just for the sake of it.That makes sense. It puts a new perspective on the term “active participation”. When you think about it, it is quite beautiful, Mary is offered in and with Jesus (is that the same thing as Mary is offered through Jesus?) and she is our model on how we’re supposed to actively participate. This is something one could meditate about their entire lives.