David Powers: The Sacrifice We Offer

Here is a conclusion from Powers' first chapter from the book mentioned in the title. It was a fascinating read and full of ideas and thoughts for ecumenical dialogue on the topic of Eucharistic Sacrafice. Here is one of Powers' conclusions:

By effectively placing this tradition in a new doctrinal and ecclesial context, the dialogues make it necessary to reconsider Trent's emphasis on the act of the ordained priest and on the power of the priest to offer the mass for the living and the dead. At the same time, there is no uniform position in the documents examined as to how the efficacious representation of Christ's sacrifice comes about, or as to how the thanksgiving and self-offering of the church are to be related to this sacramental sacrifice. Still less is there a clear position on the role of the ordained minister. One is left with the impression that, however much agreement emerges on the relation of the eucharist to the cross, it is difficult for catholics in these dialogues to incorporate Trent's emphasis on the sacramental role of the priest in offering the mass, or the traditional catholic practice of having the mass offered for the living and the dead. 20

There is a connection between the offering of the mass for the living and the dead and what Trent understood of the power of he priest, and this issue does have to be squarely faced, granted that this can be done in a new context, where some of the implications of making memorial are better understood than they were in the sixteenth century because of a revival in biblical studies. In any case, it is the role of the priest in the eucharist which emerges as one of the primary concerns in the Roman catholic magisterium.