The Rite of the Holy Eucharist

Christ is truly sacrificed in the Holy Eucharist at Mass, but not in a bloody manner, that is, not with the shedding ofhis blood and his death in consequence. St. Augustine says:“Christ was sacrificed once in himself, and yet he is sacrificed daily in the Sacrament.”

The time of celebrating the Eucharistic Sacrifice is set by the Church.

Mass is to be celebrated in a suitable place, usually indoors, and with vessels that are blessed or consecrated to their sacred use.

Surrounding the words of Christ which are the form of the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, the Church,through the ages, has reverently arranged pertinent prayers of praise and adoration, of penance, of thanksgiving, of petition.

The action of the Mass in which the matter(bread and wine) of the Eucharist is offered to God, then consecrated by use of the form, and then received in Holy Communion, is filled with suitable ceremonies prescribed by the Church.

If the priest who is celebrating Mass is unable to continue because of a sudden illness, or if he dies at the altar,his Mass is not completed unless he has already consecrated the host or the host and the chalice. In this case, another priest finishes the Mass and thus completes the sacrifice.