The Mass: through the eyes of Christ
These pictures are reproduced, with others, in the book ‘The Mass Through the Eyes of Christ’. To see larger versions of each picture, click on the thumbnail picture within an exhibition.
 | IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ARCHANGELS When we enter the church for Mass, we join the Angels and Archangels who wait with reverence and awe for the Holy Mysteries to be celebrated. Heaven and earth are united in worship, to the glory of God and the good of souls. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.” Heb 12:22-23. OIL-M:860 |
 | THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE Our Catholic churches have been consecrated as holy places for a ‘Holy People’. We long to be more worthy to approach the altar, and therefore we prepare ourselves by prayer, penance, and acts of love. ““Come no nearer” he said. “Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.”” Ex 3:5. OIL-M:1630 |
 | THE DAZZLING PURITY OF CHRIST When the Mass begins, we can glance within our hearts, and repent of our sins; but we shouldn’t be despondent. Though our souls appear shadowy before the dazzling purity of Christ, we are on our way towards Heaven. “If we say we have no sin in us, we are deceiving ourselves … but if we acknowledge our sins, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us.” 1 Jn 1:8-9. OIL-M:771B |
 | THE LITTLEST PRAYER God the Father is endlessly forgiving. The littlest prayer of ours, in trust or contrition, is rewarded with infinite kindness. It’s as if a father is stroking the neck of his precious child. “Lord God, you who are always merciful and tender-hearted, slow to anger, always loving, always loyal, turn to me and pity me.” Ps 86:15-16. OIL-M:1396 |
 | CHRIST, THE WORD OF GOD It is Christ the Word of God who speaks to us through Sacred Scripture as well as through the Sacred Tradition of the Church, and through the Church’s teaching authority. When we listen carefully we hear those truths we need to know if we are to live as God’s children in a sinful world. “All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy.” 2 Tm 3:16. OIL-M:888B |
 | A CRY OF FAITH, FROM A DARKENED WORLD Whenever we pray the Creed sincerely, we cry out to Heaven, full of joy at Christ’s triumph. Every act of faith in God is like a cry of hope and determination from a darkened world. “Keep as your pattern the sound teaching you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. You have been trusted to look after something precious.” 2 Tm 1:13-14. OIL-M:1570B |
 | HEART-FELT PETITIONS AND INTERCESSIONS At every Mass we pray with and for the whole Church. Yet we bring to God in fervent prayer every hope of our hearts, each person we care for, and each problem and project which concerns us. “… there should be prayers offered for everyone - petitions, intercessions and thanksgiving - and especially for kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet.” 1 Tm 2:1-2. OIL-M:532 |
 | TAKING GIFTS TO THE ALTAR We not only offer bread and wine to God, for the Holy Sacrifice, we offer ourselves as well: our joys, our works, our sufferings and our prayers, our whole lives, as a thank-offering to God. “Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God.” Rm 12:1. OIL-L:06 |
 | COME, HOLY SPIRIT After the preparation of the gifts, the priest prays on behalf of the whole Church. He asks the Holy Spirit to come down upon the gifts and to change them into the Body and Blood of Christ. We know that the Holy Spirit will do this by His Divine power. “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already.” Lk 12:49. OIL-L:157A |
 | PRESENT TO CHRIST’S ENTIRE LIFE We can be certain, when the bread is consecrated, that it is changed into the Sacred Body of Christ. He is Present with us in His Body and His Blood, His Soul and His Divinity. He is with us whole and entire; and we are present to His entire life. “and this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.” Heb 10:10. OIL-M:1330 |
 | CHRIST’S LIFE-BLOOD, OUR SPIRITUAL DRINK On the Cross, nearly two thousand years ago, Christ poured out His life-blood for our sakes. And when we receive His Sacred Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist, we receive Him as our spiritual food and drink. “ … the blood of Christ, who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit, can purify our inner self from dead actions so that we do our service to the living God.” Heb 9:14. OIL-M:753 |
 | AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS The Church teaches us that at every Mass it’s as though we stand at the foot of the Cross with Mary, as we unite ourselves with Christ’s sacrificial prayer. “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Heb 10:10. OIL-M:1271 |
 | EVERY GENERATION, YET ONLY ONE SACRIFICE The sacrifice of the cross is unique and unrepeatable. Through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, every generation of believers is made present to this one sacrifice, which is re-presented on the altar and offered to the Father. “Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.” 1 Co 11:26. OIL-M:1470 |
 | CHRIST’S ETERNAL SELF-GIVING LOVE When we are present to Christ’s sacrifice of the altar, we are present to His eternal self-offering. In Eternity, He is united in self-giving love with the Father and the Holy Spirit, in the unity of the Godhead. “For the sake of the joy which was still in the future, he endured the cross, disregarding the shamefulness of it, and from now on has taken his place at the right of God’s throne.” Heb 12:2. OIL-S:4270 |
 | THE BANNERS OF GLADNESS During the Sacred Liturgy we are one in prayer with the whole Church, which includes the Saints of Heaven. It’s as if bright banners are waving around them in celebration as they praise God, with us, for Christ’s triumph over sin. “From the angel’s hand the smoke of the incense went up in the presence of God and with it the prayers of the saints.” Rev 8:4. OIL-M:805B |
 | HOLY SOULS MOVE CLOSER TO THE LIGHT Some who die in the love of Christ still need to be prepared and purified before they can enter the bliss and glory of Heaven. These ‘Holy Souls’ of Purgatory are assured of their salvation. They accept this purification willingly. And meanwhile, they remain united in prayer with the whole Church. At every Mass we are one with them, and we pray for them. “And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, will grow brighter and brighter …” 2 Co 3:18. OIL-M:516 |
 | THROUGH CHRIST, IN THE SPIRIT We need Christ, and the salvation which He has won for us. So we pray together at every Mass “through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,” as we offer Christ’s sacrifice and Christ’s praise and thanks to our Heavenly Father. “If anyone should sin, we have our advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is just; he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away.” 1 Jn 2:1-2. OIL-S:811 |
 | LIKE JEWELS ON HIS ROBE Death could not conquer God’s own Son. Christ rose from the grave to a new and glorious life. He has made a way to Heaven in which His faithful friends can follow. We share in His Resurrection through faith, through baptism, and by offering ourselves with Him in the Mass - as if we are jewels on His robe. “Now the Church is his body, he is its head. As he is the Beginning, he was first to be born from the dead.” Col 1:18. OIL-S:535 |
 | CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST When the moment arrives for us to receive Christ in Holy Communion, we pause to say: “Lord: I am not worthy to receive you …” Christ our High Priest is Really Present. He is majestic and holy, yet also compassionate and tender. “Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him.” Rev 3:20. OIL-L:375 |
 | AT THE MERE TOUCH OF HIS HAND By a mere ‘touch’ in Holy Communion, Christ can deliver us from turmoil and fear. In all sorts of ways, He is at work to remind us that we are His beloved friends, immensely precious to Him. “Now you are able to appear before him holy, pure and blameless - as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid base of the faith, never letting yourself drift away…” Col 1:22-23. OIL-M:864 |