The Church teaches us that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our life, and that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the offering of bread and wine are one single sacrifice.

    Imagine what is taking place at Mass. By the ministerial priesthood, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus re-presents the Paschal Mystery (Christ's passion, death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven) in an unbloody manner by transforming bread and wine into Himself! Since the sacrifice of Jesus and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice, this makes the Mass to be the most powerful and perfect instrument for us to give God the Father our offerings and prayers, and for us to receive graces from the Holy Spirit. It is important to mention that the substance of the bread and wine changes into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, but the accidents of bread and wine remain the same (i.e., Transubstantiation).

    It is also important to mention that Jesus is the one who is literally offering the Mass, and that the priest represents Jesus throughout the Mass. The term Persona Christi is used to identify the specific sacramental identification that the priest has with Jesus, the Eternal High Priest, who is the author and principal subject of His sacrifice, which is for the redemption of souls. The Church takes this important teaching of Jesus being the author and principal subject of His sacrifice further, by saying that Jesus is the only one who can be the sacrificial offering for the redemption of souls, and that nobody else's sacrifice can take the place of Jesus'. Since the sacrifice of Jesus has so much power, when we offer ourselves in unison with Christ's offering of Himself at Mass, the Eternal Father will accept our offering, because He always accepts the perfect sacrificial offering of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest (CCC-1366; CCC-1364; CCC-1365; CCC-1404; CCC-1367; CCC-1373; CCC-1374; CCC-1375; CCC-1412; CCC-1324; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Romans 12:1; CCC-1368; CCC-1369; Lumen Gentium 10; Lumen Gentium 11; Lumen Gentium 28; Paragraph 13 of ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA by Pope John Paul II; excerpt of Christ the High Priest by St. Fulgentius of Ruspe; Paragraph 8 of DOMINICAE CENAE by Pope John Paul II). [Note to Viewers: To understand more about the power of the Mass, and participating in Christ's act of redemption, read LPCA'S FAQ numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 31.]

The last areas of importance to this pillar includes the following: 

• To give a reverent acknowledgement to the Eucharist in the tabernacle

• Silent reflective prayer before, during and after Mass 

• Seeing the Eucharist as a gift of love from Jesus

• A Holy Hour with the Eucharistic Jesus

• To be obedient to the liturgical rules of one's rite

• Enthusiastically responding to the prayers and songs during Mass

• Going to daily Mass as much as possible

• Spiritual preparation to receive the Eucharist by observing the Church's precept of fasting one hour before Mass

• To receive the Eucharist in a state of grace

• Reverence during Mass

• Doing the gestures during Mass reverently and piously (e.g., kneeling and standing)

• A reverent acknowledgement to the Eucharist before receiving Jesus 

• To make a reverent acknowledgement to the Eucharist when one drives pass a Catholic Church

• To go to Mass on all Holy Days of Obligation, which includes weekly Sunday Mass, and to always rest on The Lord's Day