CCC

1368 The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of the Church. The Church which is the Body of Christ participates in the offering of her Head. With him, she herself is offered whole and entire. She unites herself to his intercession with the Father for all men. In the Eucharist the sacrifice of Christ becomes also the sacrifice of the members of his Body. The lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer, and work, are united with those of Christ and with his total offering, and so acquire a new value. Christ's sacrifice present on the altar makes it possible for all generations of Christians to be united with his offering.

In the catacombs the Church is often represented as a woman in prayer, arms outstretched in the praying position. Like Christ who stretched out his arms on the cross, through him, with him, and in him, she offers herself and intercedes for all men.
 

 

1369 The whole Church is united with the offering and intercession of Christ. Since he has the ministry of Peter in the Church, the Pope is associated with every celebration of the Eucharist, wherein he is named as the sign and servant of the unity of the universal Church. The bishop of the place is always responsible for the Eucharist, even when a priest presides; the bishop's name is mentioned to signify his presidency over the particular Church, in the midst of his presbyterium and with the assistance of deacons. The community intercedes also for all ministers who, for it and with it, offer the Eucharistic sacrifice:

 

Let only that Eucharist be regarded as legitimate, which is celebrated under [the presidency of] the bishop or him to whom he has entrusted it.

Through the ministry of priests the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is completed in union with the sacrifice of Christ the only Mediator, which in the Eucharist is offered through the priests' hands in the name of the whole Church in an unbloody and sacramental manner until the Lord himself comes.

 

 

CCC

1368 Eucharistia est quoque Ecclesiae sacrificium. Ecclesia, quae corpus est Christi, oblationem sui Capitis participat. Cum Eo, ipsa tota offertur. Cum Eius intercessione apud Patrem pro omnibus hominibus se coniungit. In Eucharistia, sacrificium Christi fit etiam sacrificium membrorum Eius corporis. Vita fidelium, eorum laus, eorum dolor, eorum oratio, eorum labor illis Christi Eiusque totali uniuntur oblationi, et sic novum acquirunt valorem. Sacrificium Christi super altari praesens omnibus christianorum generationibus possibilitatem praebet Eius oblationi se uniendi.

In catacumbis, Ecclesia saepe tamquam mulier in oratione repraesentatur, brachiis apertis in gestu orantis. Se, sicut Christus qui brachia extendit in cruce, per Ipsum, cum Ipso et in Ipso offert et pro omnibus intercedit hominibus.

 

1369 Ecclesia tota cum oblatione coniungitur et intercessione Christi. Papa qui Petri ministerium in Ecclesia sustinet, omni Eucharistiae associatur celebrationi in qua tamquam unitatis Ecclesiae Universae signum et minister nominatur. Episcopus loci semper Eucharistiae est responsabilis, etiam cum presbyter illi praeest; eius nomen in illa pronuntiatur ut significetur eum Ecclesiae particulari praeesse, in medio presbyterii et assistentibus diaconis. Communitas etiam pro omnibus intercedit ministris qui, pro illa et cum illa, Sacrificium offerunt eucharisticum:

« Valida Eucharistia habeatur illa, quae sub Episcopo peragitur vel sub eo, cui ipse concesserit ». 337

« Per presbyterorum autem ministerium sacrificium spirituale fidelium consummatur in unione cum sacrificio Christi, unici mediatoris, quod per manus eorum, nomine totius Ecclesiae, in Eucharistia incruente et sacramentaliter offertur, donec Ipse Dominus veniat ». 338