I have to admit, although I view myself as quite knowledgeable in the Faith, there are a few major things that I am lacking. One is that I have never really been taught much about how the Holy Mass is a Sacrifice and how it is a re-presentation of the Crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary.
I know you aren’t interesting in hearing another Traditionalists attack on the Novus Ordo, and believe it or not that is not my intent; but the reality is, the Novus Ordo does not reflect this sacrifice. It’s more of a “service” where you hear Bible readings, and maybe sing, shake hands with your neighbor, and hear a sermon; but the sacrificial nature of the Mass is greatly diminished.
At the Traditional Mass you realize that something is taking place up there on the altar (not table). The priest and altar boys are facing toward the altar and performing functions. They are offering incense to the altar; they are speaking quietly, and you can’t quite hear them. They are doing something with a Chalice - holding it up to God. They are doing something, but they are not talking to the congregation. They are talking to someone else. Who are they talking to, and what exactly are they doing up there? At first you may not realize what they are doing, but you know SOMETHING is happening. There is an ACTION taking place. What exactly are they doing?
This is part of the mystery - at least at first. It will make you curious to learn more. So what actually is taking place?
Well, what is taking place is both simple and infinitely mysterious a the same time. What is taking place on the altar is EXACTLY what took place on Calvary on the spiritual level. It doesn’t appear the same, but it is the exactly same event non-the-less: it is the once for all Sacrifice of Jesus, transcending time and space and being re-offered to God. The once for all sacrifice of Jesus extends throughout the Church age. It is what the Old Testament sacrifices prefigured - Jesus is the true Lamb of God who the Old Testament lamb prefigured, and through whom the Old Testament lamb derived is efficacy.
The Sacrifice of the Mass is the “continual sacrifice” that the prophet Daniel speaks of - the Lamb that was slain for our sins, is again being offered to God for our sins. It is what the prophet Malachi spoke of when he said
**Malachi 1:11: **“From the rising of the sun even to the going down thereof, my name is great among the Gentiltes, and in ever place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles…"
**Justin Martyr: 155AD: **“God speaks by the mouth of Malachi, one of the twelve [minor prophets], as I said before, about the sacrifices at that time presented by you: ‘I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord, and I will not accept your sacrifices at your hands; for from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, my name has been glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering, for my name is great among the Gentiles . . . [Mal. 1:10–11]. He then speaks of those Gentiles, namely us [Christians] who in every place offer sacrifices to him, that is, the bread of the Eucharist and also the cup of the Eucharist” (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 41 [A.D. 155]).
**Irenaeus: 189AD: **“He took from among creation that which is bread, and gave thanks, saying, ‘This is my body.’ The cup likewise, which is from among the creation to which we belong, he confessed to be his blood. He taught the new sacrifice of the new covenant, of which Malachi, one of the twelve [minor] prophets, had signified beforehand: ‘You do not do my will, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept a sacrifice at your hands. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure sacrifice; for great is my name among the Gentiles, says the Lord Almighty’ [Mal. 1:10–11]. By these words he makes it plain that the former people will cease to make offerings to God; but that in every place sacrifice will be offered to him, and indeed, a pure one, for his name is glorified among the Gentiles” (Against Heresies 4:17:5 [A.D. 189]).
Jesus is said to be “a Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech”. Why is he a Priest according to the order of Melchisedech? Because Melchisedech offer to God a sacrifice of bread and wine; just as our Lord is offered to God as sacrifice under the appearances of bread and wine. Through transubstantiation, what appears to be bread is no longer bread. Thus, what is offered to God is not “the fruit of the vine and work of human hands”, but Jesus Christ in the flesh.
continue…
I mainly related the Mass to the Last Supper.