Feb 19 Thu
Why does the priest raise the Host and the chalice?
After the consecration, the priest elevates –separately– the Host and the chalice containing the Blood of our Lord, inviting us to reflect on the transubstantiation that has been caused.
The priest shows the consecrated host to the people, and then genuflects in adoration. Likewise, he shows the chalice to the people and genuflects in adoration.
If incense is used, a server incenses the host and the chalice during the elevations.
This ceremony was instituted to counteract the errors of Berengarius of Tours (eleventh century), who denied Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.
This is the same Body that was hanging on the cross, the same Blood that was poured there: We should repeat these truths once and again until we truly believe them and begin to love. Before the Eucharistic mystery, it is necessary for us, more than ever, to be humble.
Three things are intended by the elevation of the sacred host:
- To expose Jesus Christ, now present on the altar, to the adoration of the faithful.
- To represent the elevation of Jesus Christ’s body on the cross. He said, “And I, when I am lifted from the earth, will draw all things to myself.”
This is the mystery of Christ that we commemorate: his incarnation, his life of work in Nazareth, his preaching and miracles, his death and resurrection. Through this great mystery, Christ is the center of the universe, the firstborn and Lord of all creation. “St. Paul gave a motto to the Christians at Ephesus: To fill everything with the spirit of Jesus, placing Christ at the center of everything.” This should also be the program of our life.
- To offer to God in silence this only one Victim of our salvation, as the priests of the Old Testament offered God their lambs as victims by elevating them.
During the elevation, we should glance at the Eucharistic species in adoration. But we should also remember that we have come to Mass not only to worship Jesus Christ present in the sacrament of the altar. That could be done equally well in the Exposition of and Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. We come to Mass first of all to offer Jesus Christ on the cross with the priest and the entire Church, and to offer ourselves to God with Jesus Christ and as part of his Mystical Body: We come mainly to share in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
As part of the Church, we are united to Christ in the act wherein He offers himself in sacrifice to his Father.
The acclamation of the faithful follows the consecratory formula. We have four responses commonly used in English.
When we recite any of these acclamations, we in effect declare and give witness to the encounter of the risen Christ and Mary Magdalene on Easter Sunday.
We will find the meaning of our life by sharing the Victim’s offering and by proclaiming the message of the cross and resurrection among our peers, announcing it through what we say and do.