Why are we proclaiming Christ's death?

[DewiSant]

My wife is not sure of the statement we make after communion when we say; “We proclaim your death until you come again in glory”. She asks that if Christ is risen why are we proclaiming His death? As back ground, her Baptist parents came to Mass and we always are concious of the belief they hold that we worship a “dead” Christ and we “resacrifice” him every day.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear D,

It is after the consecration, not communion, that we say that we proclaim Christ’s death. We proclaim His death because it was by His death that we are redeemed. We had better jolly-well proclaim it—and from the roof tops until He comes in His glory!

Christ is not dead, He is risen! (See: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20.) The sacrifice we offer at Mass is not a new sacrifice. It is the same sacrifice of Calvary which transcends all time, liberating those who lived before it and those who came after it.

Jesus is presently alive in heaven as well as all who have died in Him. Our souls are immortal. They will never die.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.