The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not only a ritual which reminds us of the sacrifice of Calvary, but through the ministry of ordained priests, Christ continues, until the end of time, His sacrifice of the Cross in an unbloody manner. The Holy Mass is the sacrifice by which the Church not only remembers Jesus Christ, but really brings …

The liturgy is seen as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. It involves the presentation of man’s sanctification under the guise of signs which can be perceived by the senses, and its accomplishment in ways appropriate to each of these signs. In the liturgy, full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that …

The most important form of all Christian liturgy is the Mass. Within the setting of a Jewish Passover meal, the Lord instituted the Eucharistic sacrificial meal of the New Covenant. It was from this rite that the New Testament liturgy was born. The Passover meal was a ritual. It called for certain foods, including bread and wine, as well as …

The two principal parts of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass are: (1) the Liturgy of the Word and (2) the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Word includes the Scripture readings together with the homily, the Profession of Faith, and the Prayer of the Faithful. The Liturgy of the Eucharist has three stages: (1) the Offertory rite; …

The Holy Mass is offered to give adoration and glory to God the Father, to give praise and thanks for Christ’s immeasurable love for us, to intercede for those in need, and to obtain forgiveness of sins and the remission of the punishment for sins.

Lay people participate in the Mass by the reception of Holy Communion, and by fully exercising their status as members of the priesthood of the faithful. For example, they offer the Victim, Jesus Christ, and themselves, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him.