Sacrifice has been practiced by humanity since the earliest recorded times. The Bible recounts sacrifices offered by Cain and Abel, Noah, and Melchisedec, all of whom lived under the Natural Law, before any specific divine revelation was given.
The sacrifice of Melchisedec is of particular interest because he offered bread and wine (Genesis 14:18), which has long been regarded as a figure of the Eucharist. The Epistle to the Hebrews applies to Christ the words of the Psalm: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec” (Psalm 110:4).
Under the Old Law, regular sacrifices were prescribed, the most significant being the sacrifice of the Passover. This was offered in memory of Israel's deliverance from bondage in Egypt, and it has been seen as a figure of Christ's sacrifice. Christ, the Lamb of God, offered Himself to deliver mankind from the bondage of sin.
The Fathers of the Church also recognized in the words of the Prophet Malachi a prophecy of the Eucharist:
“From the rising of the sun, even to its setting, my name is great among the nations; and everywhere they bring sacrifice to my name, and a pure offering” (Malachi 1:11).