THE SACRIFICE OF THE CHURCH

The sacrifice of the Eucharist, or the Qurbana, is not only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but also the sacrifice of the Church, and therefore, our own. When the bread and wine are offered during the Qurbana, they symbolize the self-oblation of the Church, the Body of Christ, offering herself in union with her Head. These offerings represent us, signifying our desire to offer ourselves to God in union with Christ.

It is essential that we consciously offer ourselves to God during the Qurbana, as this constitutes the primary role of the people in the sacrifice. At the Consecration, when Christ transforms the bread and wine into His own body and blood, our sacrifice is united with His. We become one with Him, forming one Body with Christ.

At Communion, we receive back our offering, now immeasurably enriched. What began as our humble offering of bread and wine, symbolic of ourselves, has been transformed into Christ Himself. We then partake in His divine life, which transforms us into His likeness.