Christ the Sacrificial Priest

In the Holy Mass, Christ is the sacrificial offering and, at the same time, the sacrificial priest. On the cross and on the altar we have "one and the same Oblation and one and the same Priest" (Council of Trent). "Since the perfection was not attainable in the old testament because of the inadequacy of the levitical priests, it was necessary for another priest to come, our Lord Jesus Christ" (Council of Trent). In the Holy Mass, He who stands at the altar is the "holy, innocent, and undefiled high priest, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Hebr 7:26). His prayer and sacrifice have unlimited, divinely great merit. Every sacrifice and prayer of a creature, whether on Earth or in Heaven, that is not incorporated in and made one with the sacrifices of this high priest, is devoid of substance - an empty shell lacking value and virtue before God.

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