Lesson 23 – Is the Cross of Jesus Really Present at the Mass?

Can the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross, which happened in Jerusalem 2000 years ago, be present to us today? The Catholic Church answers: “yes.”

Even though the historical moment of the passion of Jesus is in the past, it is made present to us not only in our memories, not only when we read about it in Scripture, not only when the grace of Christ is given to us.

Above all, Jesus himself left us a special way in which his passion is made present to us and becomes effective in us – it is in the sacraments, and above all, in the sacrament of his passion, namely in the Eucharist, which he instituted with his disciples the night before his crucifixion at the Last Supper. ​​​​​​

Course Reading

Summa Theologiae III, q. 79, a. 1 | St. Thomas Aquinas

Summa Theologiae III, q. 79, a. 2 | St. Thomas Aquinas

Excerpt from the Summa Theologiae III, q. 79, a. 1

[I]t is considered on the part of what is represented by this sacrament, which is Christ's Passion, as stated above (Question [74], Article [1]; Question [76], Article [2], ad 1). And therefore this sacrament works in man the effect which Christ's Passion wrought in the world. Hence, Chrysostom says on the words, "Immediately there came out blood and water" (Jn. 19:34): "Since the sacred mysteries derive their origin from thence, when you draw nigh to the awe-inspiring chalice, so approach as if you were going to drink from Christ's own side." Hence our Lord Himself says (Mt. 26:28): "This is My blood . . . which shall be shed for many unto the remission of sins."

Course Listening

Charity & Communion in the Mystical Body | Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P.

Image and Likeness: Grace as a Participation in Divine Life | Fr. Reginald Lynch, O.P.