Introduction: Humanity and God

“Modern man finds the Mass difficult because we have lost the meaning of sacrifice. This is the real explanation of widespread indifference towards so great an action.” (Fr. J. Putz, SJ, My Mass)

The Movement towards God

“The liturgy then is rightly seen as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. It involves the presentation of man's sanctification under the guise of signs perceptible by the senses and its accomplishment in ways appropriate to each of these signs. .... every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of His Body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7 § 2-3)

The Mass in Scripture: “Do this in memory of me.”

“This is my Body, which is given up for you.” (Luke 22:19)

Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I (a)

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I (b)

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

Historical Development of the Mass

“At the Altar we find everything that concerns our sanctification, for there the soul gives itself to God and God gives Himself to the soul.” (Rev. J. Kearney, C.S.Sp, My Spiritual Exercises)

Mass of the Saints

“It is known, in fact, that the Latin liturgy of the Church in its various forms, in each century of the Christian era, has been a spur to the spiritual life of many saints, has reinforced many peoples in the virtue of religion and fecundated their piety”. (Pope Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum, July 7th, 2007)

A mood for change

“The sacred liturgy does, in fact, include divine as well as human elements. The former, instituted as they have been by God, cannot be changed in any way by men. But the human components admit of various modifications, as the needs of the age, circumstance and the good of souls may require, and as the ecclesiastical hierarchy, under guidance of the Holy Spirit, may have authorized.” (Pope Pius XII, Mediator Dei, 50)

Christ is at the centre

“The Eucharist always leads us to the pinnacle of the salvific action of God: the Lord Jesus, making himself Bread broken for us, pours out upon us his mercy and his love, as he did on the Cross, thus renewing our hearts, our existence and our way of relating to him and to our brothers and sisters.” (Catechesis by Pope Francis on the Holy Mass, General Audience, Wednesday 22 November 2017)

Questions