Altar Servers' Guide |
The MassThe Catholic Church places a serious obligation on all its members to participate in the Mass each Sunday, as well as on every holy day, because it is a celebration of all that we consider to be the heart and soul of our religion. We come together to worship our Lord, Jesus Christ, and to reenact the Last Supper, where Jesus said, ‘Do this in memory of me.” The bread and wine used in the service becomes the body and blood of Jesus, just as Jesus has told us it would.
Sacrifice to God is an essential element of the Mass. The concept of sacrifice is also at the very heart of our religion. It is mentioned in the Bible time and again; Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, offered sacrifices to God. Abraham (referred to in the liturgy as “our father in faith”) was prepared to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, to God, and Jesus offered himself to his Father in sacrifice, promising us all that if we “eat this bread and drink this cup.” it would continue his great sacrifice until he comes again. The Mass also serves as a memorial, helping us keep the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our minds and hearts. Through the readings, we are reminded of the many other great deeds God has done for His people. The sacred meal we share during the Mass (“the bread of life and cup of eternal salvation”) is called the Eucharist (from the Greek word eucharistia, which means “thanksgiving”). Each time we participate in the holy meal, we are expressing anew our thankfulness for all that God us given us. |