Read: Heb. 10: 1-39 Lk. 22: 19-20

"Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. [Jesus] offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. (Heb. 10:11-14)

We know that the Last Supper is NOT like the Old Testament food and drink sacrifices. Rather, what Jesus did on that holy night was to anticipate, with a food-sacrifice like ritual that could well be understood by His disciples, His Body and Blood sacrifice that would re-present for all time. The Eucharist at the Last Supper was a ritual which the Church could understand and find expression. The ancient notion of sacrifice is reassessed and purified in light of Jesus’ supreme Sacrifice on the cross.

In the language of our youth, the term "The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass" was 'common-speak.' Today, that terminology has been supplanted by another emphasis. Yet the Mass as Sacrifice makes perfect sense as long as we understand that the Sacrifice of Christ is a divine event that historically took place some 2000 years ago... BUT is timeless in its action and effects.

We did not have the opportunity to be present at the foot of the Cross with Mary, John, et al. The fact is, that Sacrifice makes itself known to us this day through the redemption in which we all take part.

Our participation in the Holy Mass makes us present, just as He commanded, at the anticipation of the Sacrifice. We are invited to be present, through the ancient — yet ever new — Mass, to the eternal Sacrifice for our redemption on the Cross. We become witnesses to our salvation.

The Catholic priest, in the priesthood instituted by Christ, does not sacrifice Jesus over and over again at the altar, as some Protestants would like to posit in caractature of our theology. Rather, the priest ties us, and indeed all humanity, into that ongoing saving Sacrifice of Christ.

Psalm 51:19 "My sacrifice, a humbled broken heart, O God, do not spurn."