Mass = Sacrifice

[Homerun40968]

My family goes to a particular church to hear one particular preacher’s sermons so they can employ his message about Christ in their daily lives, to become a better person with a personal relation w/ Jesus. What is a basic way to explain to my Protestant family that the Mass is a sacrifice, and thus much more intrinsically valuable than a service (in which one hears a sermon)? Every time I attempt to explain it, it is misinterpreted as though Catholics re-sacrifice Christ again and again. It’s difficult because the Catholic and Protestant mindsets are so radically different.

Any typological background, Biblical commands, historical references, and common sense would be appreciated.

 

[NotWorthy]

Malachi 1:11 prophecies the Mass. For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, my name is great among the nations; And everywhere they bring sacrifice to my name, and a pure offering; For great is my name among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. Jesus is that pure offering.

1 Corinthians 10:16-18 - 16*** The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ**? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar*?

Here St. Paul compares our participation in the blood of Christ and the Body of Christ - notice that they are separate… this signifies the sacrifice of Christ - with the Jews who eat their sacrifices. Just as the Jews participated by eating the sacrifice, so do we Catholics!

 

[Randy_Carson]

My family goes to a particular church to hear one particular preacher’s sermons so they can employ his message about Christ in their daily lives, to become a better person with a personal relation w/ Jesus. What is a basic way to explain to my Protestant family that the Mass is a sacrifice, and thus much more intrinsically valuable than a service (in which one hears a sermon)? Every time I attempt to explain it, it is misinterpreted as though Catholics re-sacrifice Christ again and again. It’s difficult because the Catholic and Protestant mindsets are so radically different.

Any typological background, Biblical commands, historical references, and common sense would be appreciated.

**Is the Mass a Sacrifice? **
By Jason Evert
catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0109sbs.asp

Is the Mass a True Sacrifice?
By Kenneth J. Howell
catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0309sbs.asp

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My family goes to a particular church to hear one particular preacher’s sermons so they can employ his message about Christ in their daily lives, to become a better person with a personal relation w/ Jesus. What is a basic way to explain to my Protestant family that the Mass is a sacrifice, and thus much more intrinsically valuable than a service (in which one hears a sermon)? Every time I attempt to explain it, it is misinterpreted as though Catholics re-sacrifice Christ again and again. It’s difficult because the Catholic and Protestant mindsets are so radically different.

Any typological background, Biblical commands, historical references, and common sense would be appreciated.

When you attend Mass, you are not attending a new sacrifice, you are standing outside of time, mystically, at the foot of the Cross, the one Sacrifice of Christ, united with all the Saints and Angels of Heaven.

Much better than hearing one particular preacher’s sermons and personal opinions.

 

[VociMike]

You could ask them, what is more meaningful, to hear messages about Christ, or to be present with Christ the High Priest and Victim as he offers his one sacrifice to the Father, and to be invited to join in that offering.

Words about Christ, or Christ himself? That is the issue here.

As to re-sacrificing Christ, that could only happen if the Catholic priest was more powerful than Christ. Ask them if they think a Catholic priest is more powerful than Jesus.