The Mystery of Faith
The Mystery of Faith | Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J. | Homiletic & Pastoral Review | January 2009
The text of the Roman Missal at the consecration of the wine refers to it as “the Mystery of Faith” (Myssterium Fidei).
It is a mystery of faith because wonderful, miraculous things take
place during the celebration that have eternal effects and because,
during the Mass, ultimate worship of God is given and grace is poured
out on those present and on those for whom the Mass is offered.
The celebration of the Mass is the most important thing that the Church does each day. It is the most important daily activity of priests. St. John Vianney said that, if we really understood what is happening at Mass, we would die. I assume that he was referring here to the statement in the Old Testament that no one can see God and live—and God becomes present on the altar during the Mass.
The Mass is a mystery of faith because there is an essential connection between it and the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on Calvary two thousand years ago. The Mass is not a new sacrifice of Christ because Jesus is now glorified at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Death no longer has power over him so he cannot suffer. The Christ present at Mass is the glorified Christ, as he now is in heaven.
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