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Introduction       

 

     Indeed something much, much deeper is going on!!! Many people may be confused by all the Catholic calisthenics and the dry, mechanical way of talking to God. Often we take all of this for granted and may not even understand what we are hearing, seeing, saying or doing. Many do not know the rituals and prayers of the Mass are Scriptural.

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    The Roman Rite is the main liturgical rite of the Latin Church and the main particular church sui iuris (of one’s own right) of the Catholic Church. It is the most widespread liturgical rite in Christianity as a whole. The Roman Rite gradually became the predominant rite used by the Western Church, developed out of many local variants from Early Christianity on, not amounting to distinctive rites, that existed in the medieval manuscripts, but have been progressively reduced since the invention of printing, most notably since the reform of liturgical law in the 16th century at the behest of the Council of Trent (1545–63) and more recently following the Second Vatican Council (1962–65). (https://en.wikipedia.org)

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Part 1: Foundations 

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What is The Mass? (Pgs 7-14) 

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“From the time of the Apostles, The Mass has been the central act of Christian worship...

the celebration of the Eucharist that Jesus instituted at the Last Supper...”

The Eucharist is:                                                                                                                                                                    1. A Memorial of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross (Holy Sacrifice of the Mass): - Sacramentally makes present Christ’s redeeming sacrifice on the Calvary (CCC 1366 – 1368); Jesus’ language had strong sacrificial overtones (CCC 1373 – 1374); Jewish notion of memorial does not only recall the past event but makes the event present (Seder Meal) - the         re-present (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross; it’s salutary (beneficial) power is  applied to forgiveness of sins we daily commit.

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2. Real presence of Jesus: He is uniquely present in Eucharist; He is substantially (amply) contained.  Transubstantiation is where a change of the whole substance of bread and wine into the substance of His body and blood; not a chemical one or change in visual appearance (John 6:53-56) - faith assures you of this, though your senses suggest otherwise; most amazing event in the universe happen at every Mass; sacred species remains outside of Mass in Tabernacle (NT Ark of Covenant) where we should reference The Presence by genuflecting (Reflection* - see w/eyes of Soul; if His kingdom is not of this world, should not the sacrifice for sins and new covenant also be different?). NOT a chemical change!                                                                       

                                              

3. Holy Communion with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: THE most amazing event in the universe takes place at every Mass - Son of God Himself comes upon our altars and dwells in our midst! He remains with us as long as the sacred species remains in Tabernacle; He enters our bodies, joining Himself to our souls in an INTIMATE union (Read Exodus 33) – to be reverenced by genuflecting or other holy expression of adoration; by spending time in adoration, the intimacy with Jesus brings great strength and consolation; it is  where we rest in the Lord’s presence; Jesus thirsts for us to draw near to Him.

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“In the Eucharist, it is as if we become like the Beloved Disciple who rested on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper.”

 

4. Jesus revealed as the Passover Lamb (1Cor5:7-8); in Jewish Passover ritual, was not enough to sacrifice and kill animal but the eating of the sacrificial lamb was necessary to seal the covenant (Ex 12:1-8)- a communion meal – this correlates with Jesus  sacrifice as the Lamb of God so to be in communion with Him and the new covenant.

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“In the moments after Communion, we become like Mary, who carried the     God-Man in her womb for nine months;

we become living tabernacles…”’

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We become what we eat, we change into what we consume; we gradually transform by nourishing ourselves with the Eucharist

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2.cfm