The Institution of the Mass: The Last Supper

33 A.D.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, central to Catholic worship, finds its origin in the Last Supper, where Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist. This pivotal moment not only laid the foundation for the liturgical celebration but also established a perpetual covenant between God and humanity.

The Last Supper in Scripture

On the night before His Passion, Jesus gathered with His apostles to celebrate the Passover meal. The Gospels provide detailed accounts of this sacred event:

"And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body. And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins."
— Matthew 26:26-28, Douay-Rheims Bible

In these words, Jesus transforms ordinary bread and wine into His Body and Blood, instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This act was not merely symbolic but a real and substantial offering, which He commanded His disciples to perpetuate:

"And taking bread, he gave thanks, and broke; and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me."
— Luke 22:19, Douay-Rheims Bible

The Eucharist: Source and Summit

The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes the significance of the Eucharist:

"The Eucharist is 'the source and summit of the Christian life.' All other sacraments and ecclesiastical ministries are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it."
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324

Through the Eucharist, the faithful participate in the one sacrifice of Christ, made present on the altar during the Mass. This sacrificial nature of the Mass unites believers with the Paschal Mystery—Christ's Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

The Continuity of the Sacrifice

The institution of the Mass at the Last Supper signifies the continuity between the Old and New Covenants. Just as the Passover commemorated Israel's liberation from Egypt through the sacrifice of a lamb, the Mass celebrates the new Passover, where Christ, the Lamb of God, redeems humanity through His sacrifice.

St. Paul reaffirms this understanding in his First Epistle to the Corinthians:

"For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come."
— 1 Corinthians 11:26, Douay-Rheims Bible

The Foundations of Liturgy

The Last Supper not only established the Eucharist but also set the precedent for Christian liturgical worship. The early Christians, following Christ's command, gathered to break bread and share the cup, forming the basis of the Mass's structure that would develop over the centuries.

Conclusion

The institution of the Mass by Jesus at the Last Supper is the cornerstone of Catholic worship. It embodies the profound mystery of faith—the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist—and invites the faithful to partake in the divine life. As we trace the history of the Mass, we begin with this sacred event, acknowledging its enduring significance in the life of the Church.