A Sacrifice of Praise February 14

Memorial of Saint Cyril, monk, and Saint Methodius, bishop

By Melanie Rigney

“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and choosing from every clean animal and every clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.” (Genesis 8:20)

“How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he Has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.” (Psalms 116:13-14, 17a)

Piety

Lord, I honor Your presence in my life. Thank You for Your ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Let me offer my praise to Your glory in my thoughts, words, and actions today and every day.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/021407.shtml

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10006a.htm

Who participates in the sacrifice at our Mass?

We all do.

“In every sacrifice of the Mass, four distinct categories of person really participate,” according to The Catholic Encyclopedia. The first is Jesus, who “to make the Sacrifice of the Cross fruitful for us and to secure its application…offers Himself as a sacrifice, which is quite independent of the merits or demerits of the Church, the celebrant or the faithful present at the sacrifice…” Next is the Church, in an offering “entirely independent of the worthiness of the celebrant and the faithful.” Third is the celebrating priest, “the representative through whom the real and the mystical Christ offer up the sacrifice.”

According to the Encyclopedia, if the celebrant is “a man of great personal devotion, holiness, and purity, there will accrue an additional fruit which will benefit not himself alone, but also those in whose favor he applies the Mass.”

Finally, there’s us, we who participate actively in the Sacrifice of the Mass, “the servers, sacristan, organist, singers and the whole congregation joining in the sacrifice…The effect resulting from this (metaphorical) sacrificial activity is entirely dependent on the worthiness and piety of those taking part…The more fervent, the prayer, the richer the fruit.”

The Encyclopedia has a lengthy and yet very readable history and discourse on views and interpretations of the sacrifice of the Mass. Check it out at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10006a.htm

Action

The psalmist put it well: “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?” Next week begins the season of Lent. Spend some time today considering the sacrifice of praise you will offer in the next six weeks. Make it a true sacrifice of time, talent, or treasure in His honor. Reach out to the needy by volunteering at a food pantry. Find time you don’t think you have to spend with the Bible, perhaps over your lunchtime. Resolve to skip that daily coffee shop trip in favor of a larger donation to the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. Make your sacrifice of praise count.

Happy Valentine's Day to all the readers and writers of Your Daily Tripod. ed.