Saints LightWhat Is the Mass, Really?
The Mass is not a new sacrifice but Jesus' one sacrifice on the Cross made present on the altar. We offer ourselves with him and then receive him in Communion.
What this lesson teaches
- The Mass is the one sacrifice of Calvary made present, not a new or repeated sacrifice.
- On the Cross the sacrifice was bloody; at Mass the same Christ offers himself in an unbloody manner.
- A biblical memorial makes the saving event present, not merely remembered.
- The Mass is also a sacred meal and the offering of the whole Church, in which we unite our lives to Christ.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 1363
- CCC 1366-1367
- CCC 1368
- CCC 1371
- CCC 1382
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: Hebrews 10:14; Malachi 1:11 (Malachias in Douay-Rheims); 1 Corinthians 11:26.
A sample question from this lesson
How does the Church describe the relationship between Calvary and the Mass?
- The Mass is a new sacrifice that adds to Calvary
- The Mass is only a reminder of a past event
- The Mass re-crucifies Christ each time
- They are one single sacrifice, offered in a different manner
Show the answer
They are one single sacrifice, offered in a different manner. The same Christ offers himself; only the manner differs, bloody on the Cross and unbloody at Mass (CCC 1367).
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Sacrifice
- An offering made to God; at Mass, Christ's own offering of himself on the Cross, made present.
- Memorial
- In Scripture, a celebration that makes a saving event present, not only remembered.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"What Is the Mass, Really?" is lesson 1 of The Mass, Explained. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
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