The Sacred Liturgy No. 1

The Sacred Liturgy: Did you know?
A series on liturgical catechesis.

Taken from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal
and the Instruction on the Eucharist Redemptionis Sacramentum (2003)
as well as other ecclesiastical and scholarly sources.

What is the meaning of the Mass…
According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Mass is both a sacrifice and a feast. In the Mass, the sacrifice of Christ is re-presented on the Altar, as Christ again pours our His Body and Blood for our spiritual nourishment. It is also the gathering of the Church in the Lord’s Supper, wherein the community shares in the Body and Blood of Jesus. These two elements are inseparable. This is expressed in the prayer of the priest before Communion: “Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are they who are called to His supper.” When we approach to share in Christ’s Body and Blood, we partake of Him whose sacrifice took away our sins. We celebrate this sacrifice in every Mass, as the Church gathers for the Lord’s Supper.
GIRM 27-28