The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most powerful and the most beautiful of prayers. During every Mass, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary, is made "really and truly" present, and all the power of Christ on the Cross at Calvary once again pours forth by the action of Our Lord, working through His ordained minister, the priest. Father James B. Collins' book, The Mass as Sacrifice, is a splendid synthesis of the writings of early Church Fathers, encyclicals of the Popes, and documents of Church councils, all affirming and confirming that the Mass is indeed an ongoing "holy and living sacrifice."

 

   Though slender in size, this volume is powerful in its presentation. Sadly, over the past several decades, not a few Catholics have lost a proper understanding of the meaning of the Mass and may even see it as a little more than a commemoration of an event that took place over two thousand years ago. All of this has happened not because the People of God have refused to embrace the truth about the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but rather because this truth has not always been properly and forcefully presented.

 

   Much attention has been focused lately on various rites for the celebration of Masses. Thus, the publication of The Mass as Sacrifice is timely, indeed. In the concluding section of the book, Father Collins examines the Roman Canon, better known to some as Eucharistic Prayer I, making it quite clear that the doctrine of the Mass as Sacrifice has been an integral part of our Catholic faith from its earliest days. Father Collins' book reminds priests of the beauty of the Roman Canon and will inspire celebrants to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with greater devotion.

                                                

+Edward Cardinal Egan

Archbishop of New York