The Lord commanded His chosen people to offer sacrifices to Him (see Lv, chapters 1-7). He delighted in these sacrifices. However, it was prophesied that a time would come when the Lord would no longer desire or delight in sacrifices. We live in that time now. "Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins and took His seat forever at the right hand of God" (Heb 10:12). "There is no further offering for sin" (Heb 10:18). The multiplication of sacrifices is unnecessary, ineffective, and wrong because Jesus has made the perfect, final sacrifice of His life on Calvary. However, He delights in our making present in the Eucharist His once-and-for-all, time-transcending sacrifice on Calvary.

All human beings have a natural desire, even compulsion, to offer sacrifice. This is often the subconscious motive behind suicide, euthanasia, and abortion. In these forms, human sacrifice is much more frequently practiced than ever before. Also, our addictions and compulsions are often subconscious expressions of the human need to sacrifice.

All of these sacrifices are abominations to the Lord. In the new covenant, the only good, God-pleasing, holy, and healthy sacrifice is the perpetuation of Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary in the Mass (see 1 Cor 11:24-25). We join ourselves to this sacrifice by living the Mass in carrying our daily crosses (Lk 9:23). Unite yourself with Jesus sacrificed and offer only the sacrifice of the Mass.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, June 11, 1998

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 20, 1998