So if I understand this correctly, the last supper (even though the one-time sacrafice didn't happen yet) where the wine and bread became his blood and body, since Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tommorow, it was the glorified body of Christ just like it is today when Catholics celebrate it. It's amemory of what he did in TIME, the sacrafice is over, but the glorified blood and body are here at the sacrament. And Catholics take it to be one with Christ, abide in him and He in them, and it fills the mind with grace helping them to stay away from sin? Am I correct?

-- Kelly (Noemail@all.com), May 01, 2004

Answers

BUMP

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), May 01, 2004.

Kelly,

A sacrifice is giving up something wholesome and good. For example, giving up meat is a sacrifice since meat is good to eat. However, giving up sin in not a sacrifice. This is exemplified in the OT and is still understood by Jews today. In the same way Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was giving up His body and blood. This is why the sacrifice is ongoing. It is repeated at every celebration of the Blessed Sacrament. Hence, it is called the Sacrifice of the Mass.

God Bless,

-- Vincent (love@noemail.net), May 02, 2004.

Oh, I forgot: In essense the sacrifice of animals in the OT was not the act of slaughtering them. That act just made them ready for consumption. In the act of burning, the animals flesh, wool, and hide were good things that were given up - thus was the sacrifice offered.

God Bless,

-- Vincent (love@noemail.net), May 02, 2004.

Hi Vincent, You said, It [Christ's sacrifice] is repeated at every celebration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Catholics always get criticized by non-Catholic Christians for re- crucifying Christ at Mass. I just want to clarify that the sacrifice of Christ was a once and for all sacrifice that, to be exact, is not a re-crucifiction, but a re-presentation of the same sacrifice He made about 2000 years ago.

Just wanted to clarify the word "repeated" to prevent any confusion.

-- Andy (aszmere@earthlink.net), May 03, 2004.

Kelly,

I think you are correct in your understanding of the Mass.

I also think Vincent had a good explanation of how Christ's "once and for all" sacrifice (at a particular moment in history) echoes throughout time and is applied for us in Mass.

Someone please correct me if I got it wrong. Thanks.

-- Andy (aszmere@earthlink.net), May 03, 2004.

Andy, As I remember from my catechism classes, the Mass is the "actual, perpetual unbloody reenactment of the Sacrifice of Calvary." (Focus on the term "unbloody"). I think I might be wrong on the exact wording, but I think it is rather close. Besides, I think it makes some sense. After all, the Mass is the most powerful prayer out there for a reason.

Pax Steve

-- Steve Y. (stephen.yavorski@wpafb.af.mil), May 04, 2004.

Thanks Steve.

-- Andy ("aszmere@earthlink.net"), May 05, 2004.