Consecration of the Church

Monday
Hebrews 10:11-18
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
Brothers and Sisters:
And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Praise be to God always!
John 17:1-8
Jesus Prays for his Disciples
The Apostle said:
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
This is the truth. Peace be with you.

In the Service of the Holy Mysteries (the liturgy) we should not think that we are offering a new sacrifice, rather time and space are splitting open and we are made present at the once for all sacrifice of Christ. Yet we are also offering in a secondary way all of our small sacrifices that they may be transformed in Christ’s sacrifice and we may be transformed in Christ’s glory. When we celebrate the mysteries we are keeping God’s word, “Do this in memory of me.”

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Lord,
guard the foundations of your holy Church,
which you have saved by your victorious cross.
Establish her on the rock of the true faith.
May she always be a living testimony to your resurrection
and may her children be adorned with justice, honor and
the glory of the upright.
May your cross of life guide her in the way of light
that she might attain paradise and enter into your heavenly joy, singing glory and praise to your holy name,
your Father, and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.