RCIA Resource – Session 32

The Holy Mass — Christ’s Sacrifice Made Present

RCIA – Session 32
This session forms part of a structured introduction to the Catholic Faith used in parish RCIA. It is intended to be read slowly and prayerfully, alongside participation in the life of the Church. This material is offered for formation and reflection. Reception into the Catholic Church always involves personal discernment and parish accompaniment.

Aim of this session

By the end of this session, participants should understand that:

  • the Mass is a true sacrifice offered to God
  • the Mass makes present the one sacrifice of the Cross
  • Christ is the principal priest at every Mass
  • the faithful truly participate in the sacrifice
  • worship is directed first to God, not to ourselves

This session asks:

What is the Mass — and what actually happens at the altar?

1. Why the Mass Matters

If the Eucharist is:

  • truly Christ
  • truly sacrifice

then the Mass is not optional.

The Mass is:

  • the highest act of worship
  • the centre of the Church’s life
  • the source of grace for the world

Without the Mass:

the Eucharist would not be consecrated

the sacrifice of Christ would not be made present

The Mass is where heaven touches earth.

2. What the Mass Is

The Holy Mass is:

The unbloody sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, offered to God under the appearances of bread and wine.

This sacrifice is:

  • the same sacrifice as Calvary
  • offered in a sacramental manner

It is not a new sacrifice.
It is the same sacrifice made present.

Penny Catechism

Q. What is the Holy Mass?
A. The Holy Mass is the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, really present on the altar under the appearances of bread and wine.

3. One Sacrifice, Not Many

Christ died once.

That sacrifice:

  • is complete
  • needs no repetition

The Mass does not:

  • add to the Cross
  • repeat the Cross

It:

  • makes the Cross present
  • applies its fruits

Time does not limit God’s action.
The sacrifice of Christ is eternal.

4. Christ the Priest

At every Mass:

  • Christ is the true priest
  • the ordained priest acts in His person

The priest does not offer his own sacrifice.
He offers Christ.

This ensures that:

  • the sacrifice is valid
  • the grace is real
  • the action belongs to Christ

The Mass depends on Christ, not on personality.

5. The Role of the Faithful

The faithful do not merely watch.

They:

  • unite their prayers
  • offer themselves
  • join their sacrifices to Christ

Participation is not:

  • activity alone
  • speaking or movement

True participation is:

interior union with Christ’s offering.

The Mass forms us by teaching us how to offer ourselves to God.

6. The Ends of the Mass

The Mass is offered:

  • to adore God
  • to thank Him
  • to make reparation for sin
  • to ask for grace

These ends belong to every Mass.

The Mass is not centred on our needs first.
It is centred on God.

7. The Altar and the Cross

The altar represents:

  • the Cross
  • the place of sacrifice

The Church teaches that:

  • what happened once on Calvary
  • is made present sacramentally on the altar

This is why:

  • reverence matters
  • silence matters
  • worship matters

The Mass is holy ground.

8. Common Difficulties Addressed

“Isn’t the Mass just a meal?”

It includes a meal, but it is first a sacrifice.

“Why use ritual?”

Ritual expresses reverence and truth.

“Does attendance really matter?”

If the sacrifice is real, presence matters.

9. What Is Being Asked of You Now

At this stage, you are not asked to:

  • understand every gesture
  • feel devotion constantly

You are asked to consider this:

If Christ offers Himself to the Father at every Mass, do I unite myself to that offering?

That question prepares the way for Holy Communion.

10. Questions for the Week

Reflect quietly during the week:

  • Do I see the Mass as worship or gathering?
  • How do I prepare myself to attend Mass?
  • What does it mean to offer myself with Christ?

11. Closing Summary

The Mass is:

  • Christ’s sacrifice
  • made present
  • offered for the world

It is the heart of Catholic worship.

Next week we will ask:

What is Holy Communion — and how should Christ be received?

Optional Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
eternal High Priest,
teach us to worship the Father with reverence and love,
and to unite our lives to Your perfect sacrifice.
Amen.