Christ in the Priest

Details: 22 April 2011

Although failure to observe the paschal solemnity would be a very grave offense, it would be still more dangerous to take part in the liturgy without sharing in our Lord’s passion…We can give authentic worship to the suffering, dead and risen Christ only if we ourselves suffer, die and rise again with him.

- Pope St. Leo the Great

These words introduce Chapter Four of The Mass: Four Encounters With Jesus That Will Change Your Life by Dr. Tom Curran, which will provide the content for this reflection on how we encounter Christ in the Priest, particularly during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Dr. Curran begins with a personal anecdote describing when he and his buddies were viewing a questionable movie that had been taped over the film Jesus of Nazareth. At one point, the screen image broke up and the scene of Jesus being scourged at the pillar broke through for several seconds before the movie they were watching re-emerged on the screen. Shortly afterward, the movie was turned off because the viewers could no longer watch it without experiencing considerable guilt.

This example of how a properly formed conscience is meant to work in every Christian has its roots in the formation received at every Mass we attend, which is a re-presentation of the Paschal Mystery—that is, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The mystery of God’s ability and willingness to suffer and die for our sakes is a foundational theme of the Mass, which takes us to the cross at Calvary through the timeless event of the Last Supper. Jesus continues to break through time by "showing up" (a recurring theme of the book) at Mass in the gathered community, in the Word, in the priest and ultimately in the Eucharist.

The Liturgy of the Last Supper that we just celebrated on Holy Thursday places a special focus on the presence of Christ in the Priest as he celebrates Mass. This point is given emphasis when the priest washes the feet of men representing the Twelve Apostles, but is no less evident in the prayers that the priest celebrant offers on behalf of the community or when he acts as alter Christus (another Christ) while reciting the very words of Jesus at the consecration. The divine power of the Holy Spirit is called upon by the priest first at the epiclesis, when the bread and wine are blessed, and again at the consecration when they are changed into Christ’s Body and Blood. Finally, at the anamnesis (remembering), we encounter Jesus the High Priest not only as we recall what He did for us, but also by entering presently into the Paschal Mystery that is made possible only through the ministry of a priest as he offers the Sacrifice of the Mass for us.

Dr. Curran notes, "By the power of the Holy Spirit, the priest makes Jesus’ own sacrifice on the Cross present at Mass." This miracle of God, accomplished exclusively through men who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders, allows all in attendance to present themselves at the foot of the cross and to join their sacrifices with that of Jesus to make a perfect offering of praise and thanks to the Father. Because the offering of our very lives is signified in the Presentation of the Gifts to the priest, Dr. Curran explains, "To go to Mass is to face this dramatic moment when God calls you to be "all in" for His purpose for your life, to give yourself to Him once again."

As indicated by St. Leo in the opening quote, "authentic worship" is only accomplished when we unite our daily crosses to the redemptive suffering and death of Jesus. And that is precisely what can and should be accomplished every time we attend Mass. Tune in once more as we explore how Christ is really and truly present in the Eucharist, the focus of the final chapter of The Mass.