An Apologetical Explanation of the

Mass as the New Passover

Why is the Mass called the “New Passover”?

[Jesus] said to [the apostles], “I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  And he took a chalice, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”  And likewise the chalice after supper, saying, “This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”  (Lk 22:15-20)

At the Last Supper, which was a celebration of Passover, Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist to commemorate his Sacrifice on the Cross and Resurrection, which was the definitive Passover that deliver his people from their sins.

The celebration of Passover was a Jewish feast commemorating the day that God had delivered the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt.  His own Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension are the New Passover of the New Covenant by which the faithful are saved from their bondage to sin and enter new life in Heaven.  In consecrating the bread and cup at the meal and directing his apostles to repeat this act as a memorial of his Death and Resurrection, Christ established the celebration of the Eucharist, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as the celebration of this New Passover.  (Cf. CCC 1339, 1362)

The liturgical celebration of the Eucharist makes the New Passover of Christ present again in three ways:

  • It is a sharing in the Sacrifice of Christ, which is expressed most fully by the reception of Holy Communion.
  • It is a sharing in the Death and Resurrection of Christ.
  • It anticipates the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover in the Kingdom of God.

This threefold commemoration of the Eucharist is reflected in the various prayers of the Memorial Acclamation, for example: “When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, / we proclaim your Death, O Lord, / until you come again.”  (Cf. CCC 1403, 1409)

The Catechism addresses this question in paragraph 1340.

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