The Catholic Mass

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the ritual of the Mass and discusses how it is viewed differently between Protestants and Catholics and even amongst Catholics themselves. In particular, the paper discusses Catholic theologian Michael McGuckian's explanation of the Catholic Mass and suggests that Catholicism's unclear understanding of what McGuckian calls an "unbloody" sacrifice in the first chapter of his work proves how essential it is that greater clarity be attained regarding the definition of Mass. The paper concludes that McGuckian's explanation of the Mass in a three-part structure is both powerful and lucid. It is also inspiring, given that it counters the tendency of some Catholic authors to stress only the painful aspects of Christ's sacrifice, rather than the eternal, positive, and visionary elements of the crucifixion.

From the Paper:

"One of the difficulties presented by the Mass to modern Christians is that Christians live in the absence of a concrete memory of the sacrificial system from which the Mass is derived. Thus, sacrifice can seem like a primitive concept, something from a long ago time, even while the Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is above all a sacrifice. It is a sacramental sacrifice, but not only a sacramental sacrifice or re-enactment of reality remembered--it is reality, in the moment and time of the Mass."

Sample of Sources Used:

• McGuckian, Michael. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: A Search for an Acceptable Notion of Sacrifice. Liturgy Training Publications/Hillenbrand Books, 2005

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• Argumentative Essay # 16984 : "The Catholic Church"

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