Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik: Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross and at Mass

By Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik, Catholic Exchange, March 21, 2022

This article is adapted from a chapter in Fr. Lovasik’s The Basic Book of the Eucharist. It is available as a paperback or ebook from Sophia Institute Press… Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik (1913–1986) said that his life’s ideal was to “make God more known and loved through my writings.” Fr. Lovasik did missionary work in America’s coal and steel regions, founded the Sisters of the Divine Spirit, a missionary congregation, and wrote numerous books and pamphlets emphasizing prayer and the Holy Eucharist.

To understand the Mass, we must first understand what a sacrifice is. It is the offering of a victim by a priest to God alone, and the destruction of it in some way to acknowledge that He is the Creator and Lord of all things. The word sacrifice means “something made sacred.” It is a gift that a priest offers to God as a sign that those offering belong entirely to Him. The gift is destroyed to show God that the people offering the sacrifice wish to belong to Him alone and that they want to make up for the wrong they have done Him. Therefore, sacrifice expresses obedience and atonement.

A sacrifice requires an altar, a visible gift or victim, and a priest. It must be offered to God alone and must be an outward sacrificial offering — by which it is consecrated to God — as well as an inward offering of the heart — to acknowledge that God is the Creator and Lord of all. …

Continue reading >>>>