Last week I pointed out how the Church participates in the one unique sacrifice of Christ in the Mass. Not only is each member of the Church a witness to it, and not only is each minister at the service an active participant. No, the Church itself offers herself with Christ in the sacrifice at Mass.

Our Catechism of the Catholic Church in no. 1368 explains this better. Our “spiritual union” with Jesus at Mass means that we offer ourselves too. “The lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer and work, are united with those of Christ and with His total offering, and so acquire a new value.”

What? You don’t have much awareness of self-sacrifice at Mass? Remember, it’s not just something to watch, or be interested in only minimally. At Mass I constantly try to be consciously aware in my prayer that my body and spirit, my hopes and dreams, and my prayer intentions are right next to Christ’s Body and Blood, being offered to our heavenly Father. I try to spend a pretty good amount of time focusing my attention on this, so that when we “lift our hearts to the Lord” I could tell you what’s in my heart at that moment, at that Mass. Why don’t you try it?