The Mass: Synagogue Service and Last Supper
Roman Catholic Christians celebrate the Eucharist in the liturgical act called the Mass. The word Mass comes from the Latin missa (”sent”). It was taken from the formula for dismissing the congregation: Ite missa est (”Go, the Eucharist has been sent forth”) referring to the ancient custom of sending consecrated bread from the bishop’s Mass to the sick and to the other churches.
The Mass contains two parts: the liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Word is a copy of the Jewish synagogue service of the first century: readings from Scripture followed by responses from the congregation often from the Book of Psalms. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a reenactment of the Last Supper. A celebrant does what Christ did: take bread and wine and say the same words Christ said and then share the now consecrated bread and wine with the congregation.
Roman Catholics believe that the bread and wine become the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and remain such until the elements are entirely consumed. The Body and Blood not consumed at one Eucharist are reserved for the next celebration of the Eucharist and venerated as the Body and Blood of Jesus.
Remembrance: One Sacrifice—Calvary—Continued
Roman Catholic Christians take the word of God seriously and seek to remember Christ in the Last Supper “as often as” possible. And in doing this proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
1 Cor 11:24-26
“This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Lk 22:19
“This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.”
Catholic Christians also believe that there is only one sacrifice, Jesus’, but following the command “as often as” to proclaim the death of the Lord, the sacrifice of Christ is made physically present to every Christian in all places in every age. The Eucharist makes the atemporal aphysical actions of Christ’s redeeming action truly present to us always and everywhere. This is incarnational.
Following the word of God, Catholics also know that Christ is not and cannot be resacrificed. This has never been the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Heb 10:12
But this one (Jesus) offered one sacrifice for sins ...
http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap060500.htm
Sometimes, we may not fully understand the words of Jesus, and we must have Faith in the Son of Man. Some mysteries we will not understand until we are with Jesus. Jesus left us with the Holy Spirit to help us understand after the Ascension.
Peace Be With You.
No wonder you guy have got it so messed up...We don't do communion to remember the Last Supper...We do communion to remember the Crucifixion...
Why is it that only the priests partake of the blood of Jesus during the Eucharist?