In his book, The Mass: The Presence of the Sacrifice of the Cross, Charles Cardinal Journet provides a following insights into comparing the difference between Sacrifice of the Cross and the Sacrifice of the Mass:
“The Source of Infinite but our participation is finite.” – Journet
“The true difference between the Mass and the Cross is that the mass is a finite participation at the infinite Cross – a finite presence of the whole Church and through her of the whole world contemporary with her. Masses multiply not the Cross, but the finite participation in the one and infinite Cross” (130).
- In itself, the power of the Mass, which is nothing other than that of the Cross, is infinite. Christ’s Passion, being that of the Son of God, raises up to heaven (in ascending mediation) a supplication of infinite power that was a sufficient and superabundant satisfaction for the sins of the whole human race.
- In reality, each Mass bears only a limited help, that is, (1) by the devotion of those who contribute to the offering in one degree or other, (2) by the devotion of those for whom it is offered.
“The sacraments of the New Law confer grace dependently of the subject’s disposition, but going beyond these dispositions, and proportionately to these dispositions; such that he who approaches them with two or three, receives four or six. Thus the Passion of Christ is infinite, but the Church participates in it in a finite manner, according to the intensity of her faith and love” (118)
Ascending Mediation: Christ gathers up our offerings, purifies them, elevates them, and renders them co-redemptive to complete in our flesh “that which is lacking to the sufferings of Christ, for His Body the Church” (Col 1:24). This offering is (1) infallible ex opere operantis Ecclesiae – since the Church herself is without sin (cf. Eph 5:27); (2) varies – since the efficacy of the offering depends on the holiness of those who participate in the offering (Journet says that in the newborn Church, where Mary assisted at the Mass of the Apostles, it was at a high point & therefore a sure cause of many conversions through preaching).
Descending Mediation: At Mass, we stand before the Source of all descending graces, like the Blessed Virgin and St. John at the foot of the bloody Cross. Signified by the blood and water which flowed from His opened heart, the effect of the Mass is: (1) Infinite with respect to sufficiency – ex opere operato. It has the power to redeem all men; (2) Finite with respect to the application – ex opere operantis. It is measured by our devotion (by the finite intensity of our desire).
Prodigal Catholic 