At every celebration of the Eucharist, we are spiritually brought back to the paschal Triduum: to the events of the evening of Holy Thursday, to the Last Supper and to what followed it. Source: ÿPope St. John Paul II, Papal Encyclical: Ecclesia De Eucharista, 4/17/2003
"The Church demands a certain amount of fasting before Communion. This is to remind us that the Eucharist is not only a sacrament of life, but also the sacrament of mortification. Only when we are stamped with the sign of the Cross will we be stamped with the glory of His Resurrection." Source: Ven. [...]
"For although prayers are very often directed to the Eternal Father through the only-begotten Son, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice - in which Christ, at once Priest and Victim, exercises in a special manner the office of Mediator - nevertheless not infrequently even in this Sacrifice, prayers are addressed to the Divine Redeemer also; for [...]
"A Christian on leaving the holy place moved by the holy thoughts that have been aroused in him by the sight of the ceremonies he has seen, and the prayers that he has said, ought to say to himself: 'I have just come from assisting at Holy Mass, a God has immolated Himself for me; [...]
"The celebration and worship of the Eucharist enable us to draw near to God's love and to persevere in that love until we are united with the Lord whom we love." Source: Pope Benedict XVI, SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS (Sacrament of Charity), 2/22/2007
"The actions performed by the priest in mass are not ridiculous gestures, since they are done so as to represent something else. The priest in extending his arms signifies the outstretching of Christ's arms upon the cross. He also lifts up his hands as he prays, to point out that his prayer is directed to [...]
"Since the whole mystery of our salvation is comprised in this sacrament, therefore is it performed with greater solemnity than the other sacraments. And since it is written (Eccles. 4:17): 'Keep thy foot when thou goest into the house of God'; and (Ecclus. 18:23): 'Before prayer prepare thy soul,' therefore the celebration of this mystery [...]
"Before leaving the church after Holy Mass, do not forget to thank God for the graces that He has just given to you. St. John and the holy women who were present at the Sacrifice of the Cross never forgot the vision of Calvary, and they came down from the Holy Mount, covered with the [...]
"As sacrifice, the Eucharist is also offered in reparation for the sins of the living and the dead and to obtain spiritual or temporal benefits from God." Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church #1414
"The humility of Jesus: in Bethlehem, in Nazareth, on Calvary. But still more humiliation and more self-abasement in the most sacred Host - more than in the stable, more than in Nazareth, more than on the cross. That is why I must love the Mass so! (Our Mass, Jesus.)" Source: St. Josemaria Escriva, The [...]