THE CATHOLIC MASS
Hebrews 7:27 states that Christ has been sacrificed once for our sins. Catholics don't re-sacrifice Him. We simply do as Jesus commanded in Luke 22:19, "This is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me." The Mass sacrifice is a remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus, not a reenactment.
Let's look at the rest of Luke 22, specifically verses 18-20; And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave it unto them saying: This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper saying, "This is the cup of the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you."
This do in remembrance of me. Catholics are simply following the commands of Christ, the commands of God, in remembering Him during the Mass. If you should attend a Catholic Mass, you'll see what Christ truly instituted, straight from the Gospel. The Catholic Mass centers around this Eucharist (Holy Communion); the bread that becomes Jesus on the altar and the wine that becomes His blood. This; by order of Jesus, Himself.
Non-Catholics ask how the bread and wine can possibly become the flesh and blood of Jesus. This is a question that every non-Catholic has a problem with. There IS an answer. Look at John 6:52-55, The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whosoever eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life' and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
No, John 6:53 isn't a "symbol" of our Lord, this is the actual presence of Christ.
This single statement (above) leads to another question of non-Catholics; why we kneel and stand at various times? Romans 14:11 says, "As I live", saith the Lord, "every knee shall bow to me". We believe that when the priest makes the bread and wine holy we're truly in the presence of the living Lord Jesus Christ. We bow/kneel before Him, as He commanded.
Other customs that set the Catholic Mass and Catholic Church apart from all others; bishops, the priesthood, deacons, incense, garments and holy oils:
1 Tim 3:1 - If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 Titus 1:7 - For a Bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God' not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.
THE PRIESTHOOD
Hebrews 7:5 -- And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of Priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.
DEACONS
1 Tim 3:10 - And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
INCENSE
Rev 8:3 - And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer' and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
GARMENTS
Ex. 28:4 - And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate and an ephod and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
Ex. 31:10 - And the clothes of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
HOLY OILS
Ex. 31:11 - And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place, according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.
James 5:14 - Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church' and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
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