The Great Amen: Our Yes to Christ's Sacrifice

n the Mass, there comes a moment so familiar that we can miss how extraordinary it truly is. After the priest lifts the Body and Blood of Christ and proclaims, “Through Him, and with Him, and in Him…”, the entire Church responds with a single word: Amen. This is not just another response. This is the Great Amen—the summit of our spoken participation in the Eucharistic Prayer. To understand the power of that moment, we must look at what leads up to it. From the opening prayers, the Mass has been moving steadily toward sacrifice. We bring forward bread and wine—ordinary gifts representing our lives, our work, our joys, and our burdens. During the Eucharistic Prayer, heaven and earth draw close. The Church calls upon the Holy Spirit, and Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice on Calvary is made present again—not repeated, but re-presented. Time collapses. We are standing at the foot of the Cross. As the prayer continues, the priest speaks not in his own name, but in persona Christi. Christ Himself offers His Body and Blood to the Father for the salvation of the world. This is the price: His total self-gift. Not silver or gold, not effort or good intentions, but His very life poured out in love. The Cross is the cost of our redemption, and the Eucharist makes that sacrifice present to us here and now. Then comes the doxology: “Through Him, and with Him, and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.” At that moment, everything we are and everything we have is lifted up with Christ to the Father. And then—silence, just for a breath—and we answer.Amen. This Amen is not passive. It is a declaration. It means: Yes, I believe this is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. Yes, I accept the price He paid for me. Yes, I am offering my life with His. It is our personal and communal assent to the Cross and Resurrection made present on the altar. Too often, this Amen is rushed, whispered, or routine. But it should be the strongest word we speak all week. Saint Jerome once said that when the Amen is proclaimed, it should sound like thunder in heaven. Why? Because in that moment, the Church is united in her “yes” to God’s saving work. As Catholics, we should focus our hearts on this moment. The Great Amen is not the end of the prayer—it is our entry into it. It prepares us to pray the Our Father as redeemed sons and daughters and to approach the altar ready to receive the One who gave everything for us. When you say Amen at Mass, remember the price that was paid. Remember the Cross. And say it as if your life depends on it—because in Christ, it does. Blessings, Deacon Mike