What is the Mass -- A Sacrifice More Pleasing than Sin Displeases - LMP001

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The Latin Mass Project

Inspired by a talk on the history and prayers of the Traditional Latin Mass, also called the Tridentine Mass, Gregorian Mass, the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the usus antiquior, etc. etc., the Latin Mass Project aims to provide a series of reflections on the history, spirituality, and text of the ancient Roman Mass.

What is the Mass

The word missa comes from the last words of the Mass in Latin: Ite, missa est. Some have speculated that missa comes from the verb mitto, (which we also get the word "mission" from), meaning a sending. Does Ite, missa est mean "Go, you are sent" or: "Go, you have a mission"?

No!

The truth is a bit more prosaic. Missa est in ancient Rome simply meant: This is the dismissal, and the word "dismissal" comes from missa. So the whole Mass is named after the word "dismissal". There probably is some reason in providence for this, but it doesn't tell us much about the Mass.

So, what is the Mass?

The Mass is a sacrifice. More particularly, it is a propitiatory, atoning sacrifice: a sacrifice that pleases God the Father more than our sins displeased Him. It breaks down the divisions of sin and division between God and man. By offering God the only victim capable of pleasing Him completely--His own Son, obedient unto death!--we, by the action of the Church, are able to give God the adoration and worship that is His due along with fitting thanks. This would be impossible on our own. One Mass is more pleasing to God than all the sins that have ever been committed or ever will. Thus is the lavishness of divine mercy! and the Mass is the most powerful prayer, for the needs of all Christians, for the living and for the dead.

The Drama of the Mass

From the beginning, Christians have seen the Mass as the representation of Calvary by symbols that make present and effect what they symbolize. These symbols are called sacraments. The Mass is a cultic act of worship that involves the sacrificing of a victim through sacraments, that is through mysteries, through powerful symbols. The victim and the priest is Jesus. Early Christians surrounded the Mass with all the pomp that they could, their noblest things, processions, symbols, and so forth. This drama is most obvious in the Eastern Divine Liturgies, but it hasn't been completely lost from the Roman Mass, especially not from the Solemn High Mass.

The Hosts

Michael Jonathan hosts this podcast with Joseph Anthony. Michael Jonathan studied History, and Humanities and Catholic Culture. He is the father of three sons and a teacher of literature, history, and theology. Joseph Anthony studied Philosophy, Theology, and Latin. His particular interest for the past decade has been the Traditional Latin Mass. He teaches Latin and Logic and gives the occasional talk.

All Episodes:
Episode 01: A Sacrifice More Pleasing than Sin Displeases
Episode 02: Sacramentality & the Cosmic Liturgy -- the Body in Divine Worship
Episode 03: Sacred Music Part I
Episode 04: Sacred Music Part II-- Antiphonality and the Chants of the Mass
Episode 05: The Structure of the Traditional Latin Mass
Episode 06: Different Types of Masses
Episode 07: The Unity and Theme of the Mass Propers  
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