The Meaning of the Mass: Do This in Memory of Me

Participation at Holy Mass is the greatest encounter and work of our lives

As Catholics, we have been given great dignity, for we are responsible to call upon the Lord in union with the angels and saints in heaven on behalf of each other and all creation. But along with this great dignity comes a frightful responsibility.

P>KNOXVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - The priest announces the words of consecration: "This is my Body. . . . This is my Blood. . . ." And then he says, "Do this in memory of me." It is the most solemn time of the Mass. We get up, quietly file into the aisle, and slowly approach the altar to receive the host and drink from the chalice. Sadly, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass may seem rather meaningless and boring to some people, but in reality it is the most meaningful and vital encounter and work of our lives.

There are many excellent sources on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that can help us appreciate this statement. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the first source that comes to my mind. The above video on the Catholic Mass includes beautiful music and some exciting quotations from the saints. It is worth watching. Dr. Scott Hahn has also given us some excellent sources. In this article, I have pulled together some things that Dr. Hahn has said about the Sacrifice of the Mass from a couple books that he wrote, Letter and Spirit and The Lamb's Supper, and from a lecture series he taped called The End, Book of Revelation.

So why is the Mass the most meaningful encounter and vital work of our lives? One reason, according to Dr. Hahn, is because every time we participate in the sacrifice of the Mass and receive the Eucharist, the power of Christ's sacrifice is made present and actualized (Letter 91-3). In other words, the work of redemption is carried out, that is, the grace Jesus merited for us during his life and his Passion is applied to us and the world. In order to better appreciate what this means, we need to ask ourselves what is happening when we participate in the work of redemption?

To answer this question, we must move beyond our physical senses to an unseen reality. For Christians, the essence of reality is spiritual. This unseen spiritual reality is at war. It began with Satan's rebellion and will continue until the end of time. We were literally born into a world at war. We cannot escape battle. As children of God, we cannot share in the rule of our Father's kingdom unless we also share in conquering the forces that are trying to deny us our throne (Lamb 131). However, we cannot win this battle without help.

Our help comes from the one perpetual sacrifice of Jesus. Each time we obey his command to "Do this in memory of me," Jesus comes whole and entire--Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity--and he brings us into communion with the divine (Letter 99 & 110). Though our eyes remain veiled to his presence until his final return at the end of time, he is present now in the visible form of the Eucharist in all his glory and power.

Therefore, when we receive the Eucharist, we receive power to rout the enemy. When God's fire enters us, it drives the evil spirits away (Lamb 142-3). By this massive infusion of grace, we are being remade in his image and made ready for heaven (Lamb 151-2). In this way, he unites us more closely with the members of his Mystical Body, and the Church grows in unity with him. Thus, at the Mass, we are being strengthened individually and collectively and all things are being restored in Christ.

The Mass is also where we join forces with the angels and the saints in heaven (Lamb 102-3). God gave angels governance over creation. They preserve order in heaven and on earth by the heavenly liturgy. All creation is caught up in a cosmic liturgy. At Mass we participate in the heavenly liturgy; thereby, sanctifying the order of the cosmos (Letter 112). As a result, our worship at Mass has cosmic and historical significance.

The mystery of history and liturgy are linked. History is controlled from Christ's sacrifice at the altar in heaven. It is also determined by what takes place on our altars and in our hearts. Through our liturgical worship, we release God's action and judgment on the world. It is the key to history and the realization of the kingdom in heaven and on earth (End 2 & 5).

As Catholics, we have been given great dignity, for we are responsible to call upon the Lord in union with the angels and saints in heaven on behalf of each other and all creation. But along with this great dignity comes a frightful responsibility, for it is our sins and half-hearted worship that are delaying God's mercy on us and the world. (End 8). Therefore, the next time we are at Mass and the priest says "Do this in memory of me," let us remember that we are participating in the most meaningful and vital work of our lives.

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Michael Terheyden was born into a Catholic family, but that is not why he is a Catholic. He is a Catholic because he believes that truth is real, that it is beautiful and good, and that the fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. However, he knows that God's grace operating throughout his life is the main reason he is a Catholic. He is greatly blessed to share his faith and his life with his beautiful wife, Dorothy. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.

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