The Mass- part 1

Parish Theme for 2011-12

We Gather – We’re Sent

Four Most Important Things to Remember about the Mass:#1: Christians have always celebrated Mass –

from the very beginning.

Four Most Important Things to Remember about the Mass:

#2: The Eucharist is Jesus’ Body and Blood.

“Real Presence”

#2: The Eucharist IsJesus’ Body and Blood

Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and 1 Cor 11: “…this is my body…this is my blood…”

Gospel of John, chapter 6: “…unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.”

#2: The Eucharist IsJesus’ Body and Blood

St. Ignatius of Antioch (died in 107 AD)

“They [the heretics] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ…” (Letter to the Smyrneans, 7);

“I desire the Bread of God, which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ…and for drink I desire His Blood,

which is love incorruptible.” (Letter to the Romans 7, 3);

#2: The Eucharist IsJesus’ Body and Blood

St. Justin Martyr (c.150 AD)

“We call this food Eucharist; and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who

believes our teaching to be true…For not as common bread nor common drink do we

receive these…the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer…

is both the Flesh and the Blood of…Jesus.” (First Apology, 66, 20;)

#2: The Eucharist IsJesus’ Body and Blood

St. Irenaeus (c. 195 AD)

“He [Jesus] has declared the cup…to be His own Blood… and the bread, He has established as His own Body.”

(Against Heresies 5, 2, 2);

#2: The Eucharist IsJesus’ Body and Blood

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

“What is the Sacrament of the Altar?It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus

Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by

Christ Himself.”

(The Small Catechism, 1529)

#3: The Mass Is Holy Thursday + Good Friday

+ Easter SundayThe one sacrifice of Jesus continuing for

all time:

Holy Thursday Easter Sunday

Good Friday

#3: The Mass Is Holy Thursday + Good Friday

+ Easter SundayThe one sacrifice of Jesus continuing for

all time:

Holy Thursday Easter Sunday

Good Friday

#4: The Mass Joins Heaven’s Liturgy

#4: The Mass Joins Heaven’s Liturgy

"In the earthly liturgy we share in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is

celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem toward which

we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God…”

[CCC#1090];

#4: The Mass Joins Heaven’s Liturgy

From the Preface for many Masses:

“And so we join the angels and the saints as they sing their unending hymn of praise…”

Four Most Important Things to Remember about the Mass:#1 Christians have always celebrated Mass

– from the very beginning.

#2 The Eucharist Is Jesus’ Body and Blood.

#3 The Mass Is Holy Thursday + Good Friday+ Easter Sunday.

#4 The Mass Joins Heaven’s Liturgy.