Do we as Catholics believe that Jesus is sacrificed again at Every Mass?

Catholics believe that the Mass is a re-presentation and re-enactment of Jesus’ historical, one-time sacrificial death on the Cross. Jesus’ death in past history is present to God, because God himself is made real and present to us, transcending space and time.

We, Catholics, believe this because there are several biblical indications of it. The notion of priestly sacrifice, which is so familiar in the Old Testament religion, is also seen in the Book of Revelation, where we find an ‘altar’ mentioned.

Revelation 5:1-10 presents a climactic scene in this glorious experience of heaven. We find in there the “Lamb that seemed to have been slain” (5:6). This Lamb (Jesus) is “in the midst of the Throne” (5:6), which is in front of the altar with a “golden censer” (8:3): images which strongly suggest Jewish temple sacrifice.

The presentation of Jesus as “Lamb” to the Father appears to be an ongoing occurrence (from God’s perspective, timeless), long after the death of Jesus. Hebrews 7:24 states that Jesus “has a priesthood that does not pass away.”

Every Mass re-enacts Jesus’ priestly actions at the Last Supper. On the other hand, the sacrifice made “once”, referred to in Hebrews 7:27, is the human, historical death of Jesus in the Cross.

Blessings to us all….