Immersed in Christ: Saturday, June 3, 2021
The Eucharistic Prayer: We Are Priest and Victim
What is the mystery and meaning of the Eucharistic Prayer? The Church calls it "the center and high point of the entire celebration of the Mass" (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 78). To enter into it, and participate in its action, is the real reason why Catholics go to Mass.
The central mystery and moment is simply this: during the Eucharistic Prayer we consciously join ourselves to Jesus Christ offering himself – and offering us with and in himself as members of his body on the cross – for the life of the world.
We don’t gather just to watch Jesus offering himself for us, or to adore him while he’s doing it. Much less do we gather to watch the ordained priest offer him in our name. The mystery and true meaning of the Eucharistic Prayer is not that Christ dies for us, but that we die with and in him.
The death of Christ is redemptive for us only because we are included in it. We participate in it. It is our death.
Take Action: Consciously join yourself to Christ to the Eucharistic Prayer when you go to Mass this week. And every week.
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