The Consecration and "The Mystery of Faith" at Mass

The high point of the Eucharistic Prayer is the Consecration — when the priest, acting in the person of Christ, speaks Jesus' own words over the bread and wine: "Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body…" and "this is the chalice of my Blood… poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins," drawn from all four accounts (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; 1 Corinthians 11). In this session of The Mass Explained, Dr. Brant Pitre explains the elevation of the host and the ringing of the bells — rooted in the golden bells on the high priest's robe (Exodus 28) and in William Durand's reading of "when I am lifted up… I will draw all to myself" (John 12:32) — and unfolds the acclamation that follows, "The mystery of faith" (Latin mysterium fidei; cf. 1 Timothy 3:9), with its three Memorial Acclamations. With St. Ambrose and St. John Paul II, he shows how these words make present Christ's Passion, Death, and Resurrection — what John Paul II called "Eucharistic amazement."

Key passages & sources examined: the words of institution (Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26); the golden bells of the high priest (Exodus 28:31–35); "the mystery of the faith" (1 Timothy 3:9); "when I am lifted up" (John 12:32); St. Ambrose on the change (On the Sacraments); and St. John Paul II on "the mystery of faith" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia).