Mary Anne,

The Mass is multi-dimensional. It includes the penitential rite, the Liturgy of the Word, the Offertory, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the sending forth (Missa=Mass).

The central part is Christ's sacrificial act of over 2,000 years ago that reconciles us to God and is re-presented at the Mass. With and through the priest, we offer to the Father the crucified Jesus as well our ourselves in atonement for our sins.

The Last Supper is the celebratory Meal we share with the Father, which is Jesus, for our spiritual nourishment. This is the consecration and Holy Communion.

Peace,

Paul

Hi, Mary Anne —

Many Protestants get confused about this statement and falsely believe we are re-sacrificing Jesus on the Cross again when we celebrate Mass. We are not.

The Holy Mass is called the unbloody Sacrifice of the Cross because it makes present and actual the sacrifice that Christ offered to the Father on the cross, once and for all, on behalf of mankind.

In the Eucharist, the sacrificial character of the Holy Mass is manifested through the words of institution, where Jesus said,

The Sacrifice of the Cross and the Sacrifice of the Eucharist are one and the same Sacrifice, with the priest and the victim being the same. The only difference is the manner of offering:

1. in a bloody manner on the Cross and
2. in an unbloody manner in the Eucharist

References:

• Ecclesia De Eucharistia 12
  
• CCC 1367
  
• Compendium of the CCC 280

Hope this helps,

Mike