The First Holy Mass

"Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." (Jn 13:1) 

The highest and most festive moment of the Jewish celebration was the Passover, that is, the remembrance of the liberation that God performed by delivering His people from the hands of the Pharaohs and bringing them into an abundance of joy and happiness in a land flowing with milk and honey. After Christ came to Earth, Passover became Christian and gained a more complete and full meaning of liberation. 

Jesus, as a good Jew, gathered with His apostles to celebrate this important event. And of course, He had prepared Himself very well because He knew it would be a Passover "more than special," a Passover that would change the history of humanity. 

For this reason, on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when His apostles asked Him, He answered what to do and how to do it: 

"Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Master says: My time is near. I will celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” The disciples did as Jesus had instructed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples." (Mt 26:18-20) 

After three years of teachings, healings, miracles, wonders, and signs performed everywhere—north to south, east to west—there was no one who had not heard of or had not experienced this Godman, this God made man. The disciples had seen Jesus do everything, and three of them (Peter, James, and John), His closest friends, had even been present at the Transfiguration where Jesus revealed Himself on Mount Tabor before their eyes: He is truly God. The Son of God! 

After walking the paths the Father indicated to Him, along with those He carefully chose, there were still two disciples who would deny and betray the Lord: Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot. Both denied and betrayed the grace that God had deposited in them. 

At the most important moment of the Jewish Passover and before the great solemnity of the mystery of Christ that would be instituted, Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot had already decided, on Wednesday (that is, the day before), to betray Him. 

During the supper, He said: "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed, each one began to ask: "Is it I, Lord?" He replied: "The one who has dipped his hand into the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Judas, the betrayer, spoke up and asked: "Surely not I, Rabbi?" "You have said so," Jesus replied. (Mt 26:21-25) 

What a great disgrace! What deep sadness and anguish this must have caused the heart of the Savior, who only loved, to know that one of His own—who walked with Him, who saw His miracles, who could palpably touch His divinity—would hand Him over to death for money; because he managed the finances, the common purse—and worst of all—he was a thief! And he remained a thief, even walking with Jesus. 

This should not surprise us, therefore, when we see, in the middle of HOLY WEEK, the last week of Lent, Catholics, priests, bishops, and many who call themselves leaders—Christians in general—giving counter-testimony and living like Judas—selling their faith in Christ for money—sinning through injustice; for food—sinning through gluttony; for attachment to the flesh—sinning through fornication, adultery, and all kinds of impurity; for all sorts of things, unfortunately... 

Many of us are like Peter and could say we will go with Christ to the end, but Jesus knows we are too weak: 

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." But Peter replied: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Jesus answered: "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." (Lk 22:31-34) 

That is precisely why He is our defender, our advocate; He defends our cause and intercedes with the Father for our lives so that we may be delivered from the snares of the devil, the schemes of hell to bring us down and make us stray from the life of grace. 

AND IT IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT WE ARE WEAK AND INCAPABLE THAT ON THIS HOLY THURSDAY, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY REMEMBERED ON HOLY THURSDAY THROUGHOUT THE CHURCH (BUT EVERY THURSDAY OF THE YEAR WE REMEMBER THIS HISTORICAL AND SALVIFIC ACT), THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST IS COMMEMORATED—THAT IS, THE CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST HOLY MASS ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH! 

We want to turn to the historical act of the institution of this mystery and deepen ourselves in the grace that emanates from it, through human perception (increasing our knowledge and clarifying our understanding) and through spiritual perception (by living and respecting this great mystery). 

If there are eyes willing to read, a heart ready to be formed, and an intelligence open to knowledge, may you be ready to receive the grace that God has prepared for you in this post. Make good use of it, and if it adds something to you, share this blog with a friend, acquaintance, or even a stranger, so that more people may have access to this grace. 

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take it; THIS IS MY BODY.'" (Mark 14:22) 

 Let’s see what a marvellous and tremendous thing this is: the very Son of God, the Most High Priest, the Servant of servants, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Master of masters - He Himself celebrates the first Mass that occurred on the face of the Earth. And at that moment, He also consecrates and ordains eleven more priests - by washing their feet. 

"During the supper - when the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus-Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him." (John 13:2-5) 

These same disciples - newly ordained priests - received their confirmation and sending when the risen Jesus appeared to them and said He breathed the Holy Spirit upon them so they could preach the Gospel and forgive sins (John 20:19). 

Jesus then took the bread in His holy and adorable hands and blessed it. This act of taking the bread and blessing it is the same act that every Catholic priest, acting in the name and person of Christ, with their priestly soul (persona Christi) does. Jesus consecrated the bread; and the offering is His own Body. 

Many people still today do not believe in this mystery of love and cast a million doubts on it, claiming that Jesus said the bread was His body in a figurative sense, that everything was just theatre and not reality. However, if it were figurative, Jesus would have taken it back and would not have allowed many to abandon Him when He presented this doctrine, saying that His body was truly food (cf. John 6:55). 

The act of taking the bread in His hands was the foreshadowing of taking the Cross upon His back and carrying the sin of humanity to be nailed to the Mount of Calvary, where the Father did not allow Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but did allow His only Son to be sacrificed for our salvation. 

One thing we need to understand once and for all is that the Mass is not a show, not a spectacle, not a dance, not a party, not chaos, but a SACRIFICE! It is the renewal of the one and eternal sacrifice of the Son of God on the altar of the Cross for the salvation of all humanity. From one place on Earth, Jesus saves the whole Earth, across all generations of human beings until the end of time. 

Priests, with their wonderful vocation, need to look into the eyes of Christ celebrating the first Mass that took place on Earth: think of His love, think of His surrender, think of Christ’s devotion, think of how He must have taken the bread, think of His priestly blessing over the offering of His body, which He gave without reservation to the Father. And it was for this reason that His body was totally torn apart - because He gave it freely to be the only sacrifice that satisfies the Father’s justice in the face of our sins. 

We beat, spit on, crushed, and humiliated the King of Kings with our sins, with our life of slavery to the flesh, with our denial and betrayal like Saint Peter or Judas. Above all, Jesus’ only concern is our salvation - to fill us with joy through His presence, to give us His grace, to give us a share in the unique life in communion with His Mystical Body, which is the Church, and His Eucharistic Body, to heal us with His sacrament of love: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. 

In the Old Testament, God sent manna from heaven to feed His people and foreshadow the Eucharist. The manna was sent daily and fulfilled the food needs of that day - except on the Sabbath when there was no manna, so on Friday a double portion was sent (cf. Exodus 16). 

 That was the food of God’s people for forty years until they reached the borders of the land of Canaan (cf. Exodus 16:35), and the Eucharist - which IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, hidden under the appearance of bread - will be our food until the end of our days on this earthly pilgrimage, on the way to Heaven, our true homeland. 

 “I don’t know if Heaven came down or the Earth went up,” said a saint upon entering the church and seeing Saint Ambrose celebrating the mystery of the Holy Mass. And the one who brought this Heaven was the very Son of God, who took on our flesh and became Bread to feed us, to give us the gift of living Heaven on Earth. 

 This is how we should all feel when participating in the celebration of the mystery of the Holy Mass - for it is a repetition of what Jesus did, how He did it, using the same words He said: 

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘THIS IS MY BODY, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’” 

(1 Corinthians 11:23-24) 

 In memory of Christ: this is what the Holy Church continues to do and will continue to do until the end of time - for it is easier for the Earth to continue existing without the sun than without the Holy Mass (cf. Saint Padre Pio).

“Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them: THIS IS MY BLOOD, the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:24-25) 

Jesus took the cup - the cup of the New and Eternal Covenant… No longer is it the blood of goats or other animals offered as atonement for the sins of God's people, but the blood of the LAMB OF GOD. Jesus is our covenant with the Father, and the price of that covenant was His entire precious and adorable blood, shed on the wood of the Cross! 

Jesus shed His blood for all - for all humanity, without restriction of any person; but He says this blood is poured out for many. Why? Because although all are called, all are invited to receive their share and communion in the covenant of this blood, not all accept it… 

Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot - both were called by Jesus, both were made disciples, apostles, friends of Christ, and priests. Judas received the consecration of the priesthood but was not present at the confirmation and sending because he ended up hanging himself. Both committed grave sins, but took opposite directions: one went towards repentance, the other towards remorse. 

In repentance, Peter had the courage to acknowledge what he had done, accusing himself and humbling himself before God, allowing Jesus to defend him, and receiving the forgiveness - the blood of this covenant. In remorse, Judas recognized what he had done, but did not acknowledge it before God - afraid to accuse himself and let Jesus defend him - and instead let Satan accuse him. For this reason, he deprived himself of the blood of this covenant that Jesus also shed for him. 

Many times, we act like both - we deny, betray our Lord and God, who shed His blood to save us, transform us, and rescue our life from the ruins of sin and death, bringing us into the light. And we remain stuck in Judas’ remorse - which is the great tragedy of offending God - because we believe our sin might be greater than God’s mercy. THAT IS A MORTAL SIN! 

Jesus knows we are weak, that we are flawed, that we are miserable, that we are attached to this world, that we often don’t know what to do, which path to follow, what direction to take, how to leave the old life of sin. That’s exactly why He gave us the blood of His covenant! 

Jesus celebrated the first Holy Mass on the face of the Earth and left us the institution of this mystery in a human way so that we could have access to this grace. What other way could Heaven embrace Earth - or Earth embrace Heaven - than in the very way God Himself, who came from there, showed us? 

This wine consecrated into the blood of Jesus is the same consecrated wine that also becomes the blood of Christ we drink at every Holy Mass. It is the very same blood! The same power of healing and liberation, of redemption and salvation that was on the Cross! That is why Saint John Mary Vianney said: 

“The humblest of Masses, celebrated in the poorest of churches, by the simplest of priests, makes the devil tremble… and all of Heaven bends to witness it.” 

Jesus taking the sacred chalice in His hands foreshadowed the nails He would receive in His hands and feet, from which this precious blood would flow. He shares this chalice with those who want to commit to Him - that is, to leave behind the condition and things of childhood, and embrace adult life in the faith, solid food, and spiritual maturity… 

Let us together exalt and praise the Lord for such a great mystery of love, for His sacrifice on the Cross, which we relive in a special way during Holy Week, but which we can fully live every day of our lives, by participating in the perpetuation of the first Holy Mass ever celebrated in the world: 

 "I want to praise You, exalt You, adore and glorify You, my Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved God of my soul, Lord and Saviour. Recognizing the magnitude of the love You have for me-becoming flesh and then becoming bread in the Eucharist-I can only magnify You and humble myself. I have not returned this infinite love. That is why I bow before You, Lord, before Your Cross, confessing my sins like St. Peter, because I want You to be my defender, my helper, my Redeemer.  

I am not capable of leaving sin on my own; I need Your saving grace. I need Your Body in my body, Your Blood in my blood, Your Soul in my soul, Your Divinity in my humanity. Give me perfect contrition, such deep repentance for the sins I have committed, that my eyes may never tire of weeping and my heart be pierced with pain and humility so that You may heal me with Your Blood.  

I bless Your holy body nailed to the Cross for my salvation. I exalt You for the Bloodshed in atonement for my sins. Thank You for suffering so that I could be healed. Thank You for allowing Yourself to be nailed and fastened to the Cross so that I could be free. I give You honor and praise because You are the reason for my life. I thank You for every Holy Mass I have attended, I ask forgiveness for all I missed, and for everyone I will attend until the end of my life; until the last of my days when I receive the holy viaticum-the final time I will enter into this deep and intense communion with You. 

 Jesus, thank You for every person who led me to know and deepen my understanding of the mystery of the Holy Mass. Glory to Your name for each of them, and I ask You to bless them with Your Eucharistic Heart, wherever they may be. Pour out power and glory in the form of blessing and grace upon each one of them in a special way.  

Sacrament of Love, turning toward You now, I adore You with all my being and ask forgiveness for the times I received You in sin, when I was afraid to draw near to You and let You take over my whole body, my whole being. Jesus, living bread come down from Heaven, may all mankind bow before Your tabernacle and adore You. May the angels proclaim, and may the demons be humiliated before Your Eucharistic power. May Your grace sustain and raise up more holy priests to give their lives for Your mysteries...  

Most Holy Mother of God and mine, draw me to the sacrifice of the altar of the Cross, so that this renewal may remake me and mould me into the image of Christ. Mother, form me and receive me into your womb, so that I may be holy as holy is the Body of Christ-His Blood, Soul, and Divinity-the sacrament of the Eucharist. Help me allow Your action to be complete and perfect in my life and teach me to adore Him with all my heart.  

Saint Michael the Archangel, guardian of the Church of God and its sacraments, increase in my heart the love and zeal for the Eucharist. My guardian angel, teach me not to stray either to the left or to the right, but to remain in the centre of God's will, in the heart of Jesus on the Cross, in the heart of the Eucharistic Jesus.  

Glory and praise be given at every moment to the Most Holy and Divine Sacrament. Adored be Your heart, Jesus. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Amen!" 

"The value of the celebration of Holy Mass is equal to the value of Jesus’ death on the Cross." (St. Thomas Aquinas) 

"The Mass is the devotion of the saints." (St. John Mary Vianney) 

"Just as two pieces of melted wax become one, so also the one who receives Communion becomes so united with Christ that he lives in Christ and Christ in him." (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) 

  

May we be devout - more than anything else - of the Holy Mass, for it is this devotion that will make us saints. Let us unite as much as possible with Jesus in the Eucharist so that we may become one with Him. And let us never forget that the celebration of the Holy Mass has the same value and glory as Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross - it is the same act. 

  

May God bless us and grant us the grace to love His mysteries with all our soul! 

(Translated and adapted from Brazilian Portuguese from my other blog vounessadirecao.blogspot.com)