Some critics deny that the Mass is a real sacrifice, but they are willing to admit that it is a sign and a memorial of the sacrifice which Christ offered on Calvary. They deny that it is a real sacrifice because they believe that would require a real immolation, a real slaying. But there is no real immolation in the Mass, only a symbolic representation of Christ's once-for-all real death on Calvary. Therefore they say that the Mass is not a real sacrifice but merely the sign and memorial of one.
This objection only proves the Mass in not an absolute sacrifice, distinct and separate from the sacrifice of Calvary. True, the Mass is not an absolute sacrifice. It is, in fact, a relative sacrifice, entirely related to Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. But it is a real sacrifice; as real as the sacrifice that it signifies; as real as Christ who is truly present; as real as the dispositions with which Christ offered Himself on Calvary and with which He continues to offer Himself to the Father.
The objection presumes that the slaying of the victim constitutes the essential act of sacrifice. This is not true. In the Old Covenant, the victim was sometimes slain by attendants who were not priests. The essential act of sacrifice was then performed by the priest when he laid the body of the victim on the altar, poured the blood of the victim around the altar, and offered it to God.
In the Mass, the priest offers in the person of Christ, thus it is really Christ who offers through him. Mankind is saved by the once-for-all sacrifice which Christ offered of His life on Calvary. In the Mass, we do not renew Christ's death. He does not need to die again. To enable us to enter into His sacrifice and unite ourselves to it, it is sufficient that Christ be really present under the signs of the liturgy, offering Himself now with the same dispositions with which He offered Himself on Calvary.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
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