Offertory

It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priest, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. 

-- New American Bible, revised edition  (Hebrews 7:26-27)

But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice

-- New American Bible, revised edition  (Hebrews 9:26b)

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the world. 

Divine Mercy Chaplet

Oh Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, work, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in Union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, and reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. 

-- The Morning Offering 

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, 

-- New American Bible, revised edition (Collosians 1:24)

In the Mass, we join our offering with the sacrifice of Christ. His sacrifice re-presented before our eyes so we can participate in it. Since Jesus is our eternal High Priest, the Mass is the one, eternal offering of Jesus to the Father. We are united with the universal Church founded by Christ as we do this. The Mass offered in this time and place is not our own because it is one with the act of worship throughout the world. 

Our communion includes those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. You are never closer to your dearly departed loved ones than when you participate in the Mass. Heaven and earth are joined in the offering of Jesus's sacrifice to the father. Imagine yourself surrounded by a heavenly host of angels and saints. Wow! 

-- Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski

When the Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels, who adore the Divine Victim emolated on the altar. 

-- St. John Chrysostom

Paul wrote, “I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying. the cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.“

New American Bible, revised edition  (1 Corinthians 10: 15 - 17)

All gather together. Christians come together in one place for the Eucharistic assembly. At its head is Christ himself, the principal agent of the Eucharist. He is high priest of the New Covenant; it is he himself who presides invisibly over every Eucharistic celebration. It is in representing him that the bishop or priest acting in the person of Christ the head  (in persona Christi capitis) presides over the assembly, speaks after the readings, receives the offerings, and says the Eucharistic prayer. All have their own active parts to play in the celebration, each and his own way: readers, those who bring up the offerings, those who give communion, and the whole people whose  “Amen“ manifests their participation. 

Catechism of the Catholic Church  (CCC 1348)

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