The Sacrifice of the Mass

[FuzzyBunny116]

Could someone explain this to me? I only vaguely understand it. I understand Jesus is not constantly re-sacrificed at every Mass, and it is something like a memorial, continuation, re-presenting of the sacrifce at Calvary. Can someone tell me exactly how this all works? Why does the sacrifice have to continue? Why couldn’t it have stopped at Calvary?

 

[Genesis315]

For one, the sacrafice is not confined to that one moment in time at Calvary, it is perpetual.

Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, which was **slain from the beginning of the world. **

Second, this would be a false prophecy without the Mass:

Mal. 1:11 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.

 

[TeriGator]

Since God is outside of time, He is present in the past, present, and future all at once. During the mass, He makes that one sacrifice on the cross exist in the past, the present, and the future as well.

 

[Malachi4U]

The sacrifice Jesus made for us never ends. It is beyound time and thus timeless. When Jesus died on the cross, that exact moment in time is what saved people before, saves us now and will save others in the future. Thus it is beyond time. We continue to be saved today by His sacrifice on the cross 2,000 years ago.

Consider the US Constitution. It did not end rights for us when it was written over 200 years ago did it? No, it continues to give us rights today. Thus it is a living document of sorts that has been timeless so far too. Just a similar example.

Jesus is also present with us as the Eucharist. Since Gods power to transform bread into Body works through the preist to bring the Eucharist to us in each mass, since Jesus was the sacrifice, the lamb of God, real food, He is brought present to us in mass. Thus we say “may our sacrifice be worthy of you” or something close to it. Jesus IS the sacrifice. His sacrifice is still working today to forgive our sins, it never stopped. Thus His sacrifice continues today without end.

Jesus is not resacrificed or sacriced again and again. He made ONE sacrifice for us that never ends and is timeless. Clear to Catholics - pure mud to Protestants I guess? It won’t fit with their man-made opinions on salvation?

Hope this helps, I kept it short I hope it’s clear.

 

[mrS4ntA]

The sacrifice of Calvary is perpetual and eternal. Consider St John’s vision, recorded in the book of Revelation, where he saw Jesus on the throne “as a lamb slain,” which cannot be explained if the sacrifice of Calvary was confined in time and stopped right there and then.

 

[Grace_and_Glory]

There have been a lot of good answers, so I’ll just add a little bit.
Christ’s sacrifice could not have stopped at Calvary because there are two parts to our salvation: Christ’s objective redemption of all mankind and the application of that redemption to us as individuals. Christ’s sacrifice must be applicable to us in our time and place. If the sacrifice was confined to Calvary in the early first century, it could not be applied to us. I know that not all Christians believe that the sacrifice is applied to us by being re-presented in the Eucharist, but to my knowledge all of us believe that Christ’s sacrifice must be applied to us in our time and place, in our lives. So there must be some eternal aspect to the sacrifice.

 

[JimG]

The Sacrifice of the Mass is the same sacrifice which is offered by Jesus at Calvary.

The Mass makes us present at that one Sacrifice.

Or, you may say that the Mass makes that one Sacrifice present to us.

Both ways of saying it mean the same thing. We are made present at the events of our salvation.

 

[TJD]

I understand that God is outside of time so he is everywhere always. I also understand that Jesus’ crucifixion on Calvary was a historical event. I thought that was the point of the Nativity Christ is man, that is a person in history.

Regarding the sacrifice of the Mass, It is the most beautiful awe inspiring thing I participate in. My understanding is the Priest represents Jesus (or takes Jesus’ role in a sacramental way) and Jesus becomes his own sacrifice to us, the sinners that we are. It sends shivers down my spine just reflecting on the sacrifice of the Mass. This is what Jesus did for us on Calvary, surrendered his human life in the most dehumanizing way, thus offering all of humanity salvation and life. The sacrifice of the Mass does the same thing; it offers all of humanity salvation and life. This is the Paschal Mystery that humbles me to sing praise and thanksgiving. Remember Easter. Jesus rose from the dead. Christ is God and the Glory of Easter gives us hope. Without Calvary there would be no Easter. Without the Last Supper and Easter there would be no Eucharist.

We are not hanging Christ on the Cross at every Mass. He allowed that to happen because he loved us. Non-the-less Jesus is offering Himself to us in the Eucharist for our salvation. He is sacrificing Himself for us. We are doing his bidding from the last supper. We should thank Him for his sacrifice on Calvary and we should thank Him for his sacrifice of the Mass. They are indeed both the same. Through the Eucharist we bask in Christ’s Glory. He is alive.

Christ’s Peace