I do understand what the Church says about the Eucharist and transubstantiation. However, no matter how many different videos, articles, and tracts here on Catholic Answers I read, I cannot grasp the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist at Mass.
To explain further, the New Testament is clear that when Jesus died on the cross, the ultimate sacrifice was made once and for all and that no other sacrifices would be needed in the future. It was a perfect sacrifice.
I also understand the Catholic Church does NOT teach that we are re-sacrificing Jesus at the Mass because Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross 2,000 years ago. But, the Catholic Church also teaches that the Eucharistic feast is not only a memorial meal, that transubstantiation is present, and that we are, in some way, re-offering Jesus in an unbloody sacrifice at the Mass.
I just can't wrap my head around the theology of this re-offering at the mass. Can someone please explain this aspect of the Eucharist (its sacrificial nature at the Mass)? I need it explained in plain terms...I have read the official Catholic doctrines on this and even watched the videos on Catholic Answers, but honestly, I find those explanations confusing and I believe they do a poor job of explaining how there can be one perfect sacrifice when Jesus was on the cross and yet a re-offering every single week.
Obviously, evangelicals hold the view that the Eucharistic meal is essentially a memorial only, a sacrifice in the sense that we are saying thanks to God...but not a sacrifice in the way the Catholic Church teaches. I have read their arguments, and while I do believe the Early Church Fathers believed in the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist, I have yet to find a really clear response to the evangelical argument that there is only one sacrifice, the one on Calvary, so why do Catholics re-offer Jesus each Sunday? Help here would be great!
To explain further, the New Testament is clear that when Jesus died on the cross, the ultimate sacrifice was made once and for all and that no other sacrifices would be needed in the future. It was a perfect sacrifice.
I also understand the Catholic Church does NOT teach that we are re-sacrificing Jesus at the Mass because Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross 2,000 years ago. But, the Catholic Church also teaches that the Eucharistic feast is not only a memorial meal, that transubstantiation is present, and that we are, in some way, re-offering Jesus in an unbloody sacrifice at the Mass.
I just can't wrap my head around the theology of this re-offering at the mass. Can someone please explain this aspect of the Eucharist (its sacrificial nature at the Mass)? I need it explained in plain terms...I have read the official Catholic doctrines on this and even watched the videos on Catholic Answers, but honestly, I find those explanations confusing and I believe they do a poor job of explaining how there can be one perfect sacrifice when Jesus was on the cross and yet a re-offering every single week.
Obviously, evangelicals hold the view that the Eucharistic meal is essentially a memorial only, a sacrifice in the sense that we are saying thanks to God...but not a sacrifice in the way the Catholic Church teaches. I have read their arguments, and while I do believe the Early Church Fathers believed in the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist, I have yet to find a really clear response to the evangelical argument that there is only one sacrifice, the one on Calvary, so why do Catholics re-offer Jesus each Sunday? Help here would be great!