The Paschal Mystery Introduction to the Mass
Scratching the surface • God, at all times, is calling you to an infinite relationship • “License to learn”
Quick Word on Sacraments • General Definition • “The sacraments are perceptible signs (words and actions) accessible to our human nature. By the actions of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit they make present efficaciously the grace that they signify.” [1084] • Sacraments are often under-estimated • Of all the aspects of spiritual discipline (study & loving works & words) sacraments are the most significant for sanctification, as they are imbued with supernatural grace • ”Particular” grace (above & beyond) • Case in point: Baptism • The greatest of these is the Paschal Mystery
Paschal Mystery, Defined • “…the Father accomplishes the ‘mystery of his will’ by giving his beloved Son and his Holy Spirit for the salvation of the world and for the glory of his name.” [1066] • “He accomplished this work principally by the paschal mystery of his blessed passion, resurrection from the dead, and glorious ascension, whereby ‘dying He destroyed our death, rising He restored our life.” [1067] • This act is what is “re-presented” in the celebration of the Mass
Misconceptions about the Mass • “ It’s too ritualistic " • There’s a difference between representative acts and substantial acts • Ex: Celebrating a birthday vs. actually giving birth • Mass is not a human construct, but a sacrament of Christ’s institution • Origins of celebrating the Paschal Mystery (Fr. Ripperger, Sensus Fidelium) • How humans operate • Natural Law – Commands the virtues (conformance to the properly order of human nature) • Divine Law – Instructs us explicitly, with revelation
Misconceptions about the Mass • Origins of celebrating the Paschal Mystery, cont’d… • Virtue calls us to sacrifice (offer some good thing back to God- Influence & reciprocity), but we cannot do so without revealed Divine Law • Ex: Honored dinner guest • We need God to tell us what pleases Him • Old Testament sacrifices had explicit instructions (Lamb- Prefigurement to new testament) • New Testament: “Eat of my flesh…” [John 6:51-58] & “Take it; this is my body...” [Mark 14:22]
Misconceptions about the Mass • Representative vs. Substantial • Christ becomes physically present in the Eucharist (Transubstantiation) • Without this, the sacrifice of the Mass would truly be ridiculous • You cannot be too reverent or respectful to God Himself • Besides, • Those who would critique what they in ignorance call “ritualistic tradition,” are frequently guilty of far greater and less substantiated rituals of their own • Unity candles, mixing of sand, cheap “worship space” decorations.
Misconceptions about the Mass • Re-Crucifying Christ? • Paschal mystery is not bound by time [1085] • “Christian liturgy not only recalls the events that saved us but actualizes them, makes the present. The Paschal mystery of Christ is celebrated, not repeated, and in each celebration there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that makes the unique mystery present.” [1104]
Misconceptions about the Mass • Removed from God’s word? • Liturgy of the Word is first part of Mass • Sermon is separate from sacrament • The event does not revolve around an individual human’s interpretation • But above all else, we participate in being • Join ourselves in sacrifice to God
Liturgy of the Mass • Liturgy- Greek ‘leitourgia,’ Public work, or work done for the people • Mass • Culmination of prophesy • Re-presentation of the Paschal Mystery • Presence of God in Word & Eucharist • Communion of Christ & Church
Liturgy (Word) • “He is present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in the Church.” [1088] • Signifies first portion of Christ’s ministry in public life: his preaching and healing • “…the Holy Spirit fulfills what was prefigured in the Old Covenant .” [1093] • Blood Sacrifice • Exodus & Passover
Liturgy (Word) • After the liturgy of the Word, we recite our profession of faith • Catholic Faith is precisely one thing and universal • Recognize the reality of God and Existence as manifested and revealed by God
Liturgy (Offertory) • “Without an offertory, it’s just a meal.” –Fr. Ripperger • We bring forward ”the gifts” • ALL the gifts of God • Bread & Wine symbolic to all of existence • As product of God • As shared offering (ourselves)
Liturgy (Offertory) • “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. For through Your goodness, we have received the bread we offer you…” • ”The Epiclesis (invocation upon) is the intercession in which the priest begs the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, so that the offering may become the body and blood of Christ and that the faithful, be receiving them may themselves become a living offering to God.” [1105]
Liturgy (Eucharist) • Again, it is the sacrifice to God the Father, of God the Son, participated in by the whole church to receive God the Spirit, by consumption of God the Son, under the instruction of Christ.
Liturgy (Eucharist) • Modes of Presence (Sermon by Fr. Ripperger, Holy Eucharist , Sensus Fidelium) • 1) Casual Presence • Cause is Present to Effect • God is Everywhere • 2) Spiritually • “2 or more are gathered..” • God listens to and is operative to our prayers
Liturgy (Eucharist) • Modes of being, Continued… • 3) Analogy & Participation • In sanctifying grace, God participates • Indwelling of the Trinity in the soul • 4) Substantial Presence • God is present in some physical way • In the Word, God is only present mentally
Liturgy (Eucharist) • The Priest, “In Persona Christi” • Priest, as hands of Christ, uses the words of Christ to breathe life into creation • While we participate in the general order of priestly people, the ordained priest is a member of the particular priesthood, by Holy Orders • Hands are consecrated to act as hands of Christ • Priest is God’s vessel (Symbolism- vestments)
Liturgy (Eucharist) • Three Elements of Ritual Sacrifice (Fr. Ripperger, Sacrifice in the Mass, Sensus Fidelium) • 1) Offertory • Dedication, purpose • 2) Slay the victim to consume it • Body of Christ broken to atone, be shared, and feed • 3) Consume the Victim • Communion
Liturgy (Eucharist) • Communion • We are being fed by God • Being itself, enters our being • What we eat, becomes us ( Philosophy of Nature , D. Q. McInerny) • Symbolism: Commission of Communion “Once we share the bread that has been broken, we are saying that we too will be the Body broken, for the life of the world.” (The Mass Series, Liturgy of the Eucharist- Fraction, Archdiocese of Brisbane) • Why you do not take communion if you are not Catholic
Liturgy (Eucharist) • “Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb” [Rev 19:9] • The Priest says, “The Body of Christ” • This is not just a piece of bread • We say, “Amen” • I believe that this is the body of Christ (Do not receive in mortal sin) • That I am part of the body of Christ • Foretaste of world to come, in communion of the church
Conclusion: The Mass • Spiritual Strengthening • Sacramental grace • Spiritual Discipline • Community • Sunday Responsibility: Conforming ourselves to God’s design • Human aspect: Failing our fulfillment (practice) • Divine aspect: Disobedience to God’s order • We are made for purpose
Conclusion: The Mass • Looks to Past • Prophesy • Prefigured • Looks to Present • Presence of God • Looks to Future • Communion of Church, in this life and in next
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