I. The Essence, Institution, and the End of the Mass

COMPENDIUM

The Eucharist, besides being a Sacrament, is also a permanent sacrifice of the New Law, and was left by Jesus Christ to His Church to be offered to God by the hands of His Priests. A sacrifice generally consists in offering something sensible to God, and in destroying it in such a way as to acknowledge His supreme dominion over us and all things. This sacrifice under the New Law is called Holy Mass, which is the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, offered on our altars under the species of bread and wine, in memory of the sacrifice of the Cross.

The Sacrifice of the Mass is substantially that of the Cross, in as far as the same Jesus Christ, who offered Himself on the Cross, is He who offers Himself by the hands of the Priests, His ministers, on our altars; but as to the manner of its offering, the Sacrifice of the Mass differs from the Sacrifice of the Cross, only retaining the most intimate and essential connection with the latter. The difference and connection between them is this: that on the Cross, Jesus Christ offered Himself by shedding His Blood and by meriting for us; while on the altars He sacrifices Himself without shedding His Blood, and applies to us the fruits of His Passion and Death. Another connection of the Sacrifice of the Mass with that of the Cross is that the former represents the shedding of the Blood of Jesus Christ in a sensible manner; because, in virtue of the words of consecration, there becomes present under the species of the wine the Blood only of our Savior; although, through the natural concomitance and the hypostatic union, the living and true Jesus Christ is present under both species.

The Sacrifice of the Cross is the one sacrifice of the New Law, in so far as through it the Lord appeased the Divine Justice, acquired all the merits necessary for our salvation, and thus fulfilled His part in our redemption. These merits, however, He applies to us by the means which He has instituted in His Church, amongst which is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Sacrifice of Holy Mass is offered to God for four ends:

1. To honor Him in a fitting manner, and hence it is called latreutic.
2. To thank Him for His benefits, and hence it is called eucharistic.
3. To appease Him, by giving Him the satisfaction due for our sins, and by way of suffrage for the souls of purgatory, and hence it is called propitiatory.
4. To obtain all necessary graces, and hence it is called impetratory.

The first and chief offerer of the Sacrifice of Holy Mass is Jesus Christ, and the Priest is the minister who, in the name of Jesus Christ, offers the same sacrifice to the Eternal Father.

The Sacrifice of Holy Mass was instituted by Jesus Christ Himself when He instituted the sacrifice of the Eucharist, and ordained that it should be done as a memorial of His Passion.

Holy Mass is offered to God alone; and even when celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, it is always a sacrifice offered to God only; and, therefore, it is said to be celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints to thank God for the gifts that He has bestowed upon them, and to obtain from Him through their intercession more abundantly those graces we need.

The whole Church participates in the benefits of the Mass, but particularly:

1. The Priest, and those who are present at the Mass, who consider themselves united to the Priest.
2. Those to whom the Mass is applied, who may be living or dead.

CATECHISM

651. Should the Holy Eucharist be considered only as a Sacrament?

The Holy Eucharist, besides being a Sacrament, is also the permanent sacrifice of the New Law, which Jesus Christ left to His Church to be offered to God by the hands of His Priests.

652. In what, in general, does a sacrifice consist?

In general, a sacrifice consists in the offering of some sensible thing to God and in some way destroying it as an acknowledgment of His supreme dominion over us and over all things.

653. What is this sacrifice of the New Law called?

This sacrifice of the New Law is called the Holy Mass.

654. What, then, is the Holy Mass?

The Holy Mass is the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ offered on our altars under the appearances of bread and wine, in commemoration of the sacrifice of the Cross.

655. Is the Sacrifice of the Mass the same as that of the Cross?

The Sacrifice of the Mass is substantially the same as that of the Cross, for the same Jesus Christ, who offered Himself on the Cross, it is who offers Himself by the hands of the Priests, His ministers, on our altars; but as regards the way in which He is offered, the Sacrifice of the Mass differs from the Sacrifice of the Cross, though retaining the most intimate and essential relation to it.

656. What difference and relation then is there between the Sacrifice of the Mass and that of the Cross?

Between the Sacrifice of the Mass and that of the Cross, there is this difference and relation: that, on the Cross, Jesus Christ offered Himself by shedding His Blood and meriting for us; whereas, on our altars, He sacrifices Himself without the shedding of His Blood, and applies to us the fruits of His Passion and Death.

657. What other relation has the Sacrifice of the Mass to that of the Cross?

Another relation of the Sacrifice of the Mass to that of the Cross is that the Sacrifice of the Mass represents in a sensible way the shedding of the Blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross, because, in virtue of the words of consecration, only the Body of our Savior is made present under the species of the bread and only His Blood under the species of the wine; although by natural concomitance and by the hypostatic union, the living and real Jesus Christ is present under each of the species.

658. Is not the Sacrifice of the Cross the one only sacrifice of the New Law?

The Sacrifice of the Cross is the one only sacrifice of the New Law, inasmuch as through it our Lord satisfied Divine Justice, acquired all the merits necessary to save us, and thus, on His part, fully accomplished our redemption. These merits, however, He applies to us through the means instituted by Him in His Church, among which is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

659. For what ends, then, is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered?

The Sacrifice of the Mass is offered to God for four ends: 1. to honor Him properly, and hence it is called latreutic; 2. to thank Him for His favors, and hence it is called eucharistic; 3. to appease Him, make Him due satisfaction for our sins, and to help the souls in purgatory, and hence it is called propitiatory; 4. to obtain all the graces necessary for us, and hence it is called impetratory.

660. Who is it that offers to God the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass?

The first and principal offeror of the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass is Jesus Christ, while the Priest is the minister who in the Name of Jesus Christ offers the same sacrifice to the Eternal Father.

661. Who instituted the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass?

Jesus Christ Himself instituted the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass when He instituted the Sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist and said that this should be done in memory of His Passion.

662. To whom is the Holy Mass offered?

The Holy Mass is offered to God alone.

663. If the Holy Mass is offered to God alone, why are so many Masses celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints?

Mass celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints is always a sacrifice offered to God alone; it is said to be celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints to thank God for the gifts He has given them, and through their intercession to obtain from Him more abundantly the graces of which we have need.

664. Who shares in the fruits of the Mass?

The entire Church shares in the fruits of the Mass, but more particularly: 1. the Priest and those who assist at Mass, the latter being united with the Priest; 2. those for whom the Mass is applied, both living and dead.

II. How to Assist at Holy Mass

COMPENDIUM

To hear Holy Mass well and fruitfully, two things are necessary: 1. modesty of person; 2. devotion of heart. Modest in person consists in being modestly dressed, in being silent and recollected, and in remaining on one's knees as much as possible, except during the two Gospels, which are heard standing. The best way to practice devotion of heart is the following:

1. To begin by uniting one's own intention to that of the Priest, offering the Holy Sacrifice to God for the ends for which is was instituted.
2. To accompany the Priest in every prayer and act of the sacrifice.
3. To meditate on the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, and to detest from the heart the sins which were the cause of it.
4. To make Communion sacramentally, or at least spiritually, when the Priest communicates.

Spiritual Communion means a great desire of being united sacramentally with Jesus Christ, saying for instance: "My Lord Jesus Christ, I desire with all my heart to unite with Thee now and through all eternity"; and making the same acts as are made before and after Sacramental Communion.

The recitation of the Rosary and other prayers during Mass do not hinder the hearing of it fruitfully, provided that care is taken as far as possible to follow the action of the Holy Sacrifice.

It is a good thing to pray for others in assisting at Holy Mass; and, moreover, the time of Holy Mass is the most opportune for praying to God for the living and the dead. When Mass is over, we should thank God for the grace of having been enabled to be present at this great sacrifice, and ask His pardon for all the shortcomings we may have committed while assisting at it.

CATECHISM

665. What is required in order to assist at Holy Mass well and profitably?

To assist at Holy Mass well and profitably, two things are necessary: 1. modesty of person, and 2. devotion of heart.

666. In what does modesty of person consist?

Modesty of person consists especially in being modestly dressed, in observing silence and recollection and, as far as possible, in remaining kneeling, except during the time of the two Gospels which are heard standing.

667. In hearing Holy Mass, which is the best way to practice true devotion?

In hearing Holy Mass, the best way to practice true devotion is the following: 1. from the very beginning to unite our intention with that of the Priest, offering the Holy Sacrifice to God for the ends for which it was instituted; 2. to accompany the Priest in each prayer and action of the Sacrifice; 3. to meditate on the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ and to heartily detest our sins, which have been the cause of them; 4. to go to Communion, or at least to make a spiritual Communion while the Priest communicates.

668. What is Spiritual Communion?

Spiritual Communion is a great desire to be united sacramentally with Jesus Christ. saying, for example: "My Lord Jesus Christ, I desire with my whole heart to be united with Thee now and forever;" and then make the same acts that are to be made before and after Sacramental Communion.

669. Does the recitation of the Rosary or other prayers during Mass prevent us from hearing it with profit?

The recitation of the Rosary and other prayers during Mass does not prevent us from hearing it with profit, provided we try as far as possible to follow the parts of the Holy Sacrifice.

670. Is it advisable to pray for others while assisting at Mass?

Yes, it is advisable to pray for others while assisting at Mass; nay more, the time of Holy Mass is the most suitable of all times to pray for the living and the dead.

671. What should we do after Mass?

After Mass, we should give God thanks for having allowed us to assist at this great Sacrifice, and we should ask pardon for all the faults we may have committed while assisting at it.