CV NEWS FEED // Dr. Edward Sri explained the importance of possessing a communicable understanding of the Sacrifice of the Mass in a message delivered at the National Eucharistic Congress on July 18.
Dr. Sri is a renowned theologian, best-selling author, and international Catholic speaker. He serves as an adjunct professor at the Augustine Institute and as Sr. Vice President of Apostolic Outreach for FOCUS.
According to Dr. Sri, understanding the Last Supper and the sacrifice of the Mass has the power to deepen one’s union with Christ and will lead to a transformation of marriage, parenthood, and the single life.
“Could you explain the sacrifice of the Mass to somebody?” Dr. Sri asked the crowd, packed with people there for his talk, “A Biblical Walk Through the Mass: Understanding the Liturgy.”
Dr. Sri explained that while it may be true that a significant number of Catholics don’t believe in the true presence, he estimates that an overwhelming 90% of Catholics don’t actually understand the sacrifice of the Mass and can’t articulate it to others.
“I want you to be a part of the 10%,” he told the audience.
Dr. Edward Sri took the audience on a vivid journey back to the first-century Jewish world. He urged listeners to imagine themselves as apostles at the Last Supper, hearing Jesus’ words for the first time.
Drawing parallels with the Jewish Passover, Dr. Sri described how the ancient Jews not only retold but also reenacted the Passover story to make the past present. He emphasized that this concept of making the past present is crucial for grasping the depth of the Mass. By celebrating the Eucharist as a living memorial, Catholics are invited to experience the Last Supper as if they were there with Jesus.
Dr. Sri asked the audience what they would be thinking, if they were present at the Last Supper and heard Jesus’ words of His body being lifted up for them.
“You would realize Jesus is using sacrificial language, taken from the temple sacrifices to describe the blood of the animal before it poured over the altar for forgiveness of sins,” Dr. Sri said. “And Jesus is taking all that sacrificial language and applying it to himself. It’s like he’s the new Passover Lamb.”
The most important thing that Jesus says, however, is the memorial: “Do this in memory of Me.”
Dr. Sri explained that “memorial” means to make something present. He clarified that when Jesus says, “Do this in memory of me,” he’s instructing us to make his offering, his body and blood, and the sacrifice of his Cross present for all future generations.
When the faithful go to Mass, said Dr. Sri, it’s as if Calvary is made present to them. They “become like St. John or the Blessed Virgin Mary, mystically made present at that founding event,” he said.
