Christ, the eternal sacrifice
“Lo! over ancient forms departing / Newer rites of grace prevail” (Tantum Ergo)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes Vatican II, who said: “…every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of his Body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No other action of the Church can equal its efficacy (effectiveness) by the same title and to the same degree” (CCC 1070). Further on, the Catechism says:
His Paschal mystery is a real event that occurred in our history, but it is unique: all other historical events happen once, and then they pass away, swallowed up in the past. The Paschal mystery of Christ, by contrast, cannot remain only in the past, because by his death he destroyed death, and all that Christ is—all that he did and suffered for all men—participates in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times while being made present in them all. The event of the Cross and Resurrection abides and draws everything toward life. (CCC 1085)
First, there were animal sacrifices—a lamb every Passover. But God found it fitting to assume our nature and offer himself as the eternal Lamb. And he did so in an act that would last for all time, outside of the confines of history, so that people of all ages would be able to participate in it, journeying towards eternal life! HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!
We can do all we want to praise God and thank him for our life. We can worship God in our own ways all day. But all of that can only go so far if it is not connected to a participation in the one eternal event—the Paschal Mystery, made truly present for us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist—every Sunday (at the absolute least!).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes Vatican II, who said: “…every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of his Body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No other action of the Church can equal its efficacy (effectiveness) by the same title and to the same degree” (CCC 1070). Further on, the Catechism says:
His Paschal mystery is a real event that occurred in our history, but it is unique: all other historical events happen once, and then they pass away, swallowed up in the past. The Paschal mystery of Christ, by contrast, cannot remain only in the past, because by his death he destroyed death, and all that Christ is—all that he did and suffered for all men—participates in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times while being made present in them all. The event of the Cross and Resurrection abides and draws everything toward life. (CCC 1085)
First, there were animal sacrifices—a lamb every Passover. But God found it fitting to assume our nature and offer himself as the eternal Lamb. And he did so in an act that would last for all time, outside of the confines of history, so that people of all ages would be able to participate in it, journeying towards eternal life! HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!
We can do all we want to praise God and thank him for our life. We can worship God in our own ways all day. But all of that can only go so far if it is not connected to a participation in the one eternal event—the Paschal Mystery, made truly present for us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist—every Sunday (at the absolute least!).
posted by Scott the Seminarian at 12:08 PM
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