The Mass is the central original act of Christian society. It is when individual baptised people brought together by “ecclesial” baptism, and acting as a body, present themselves before the altar as an organised whole – in a priestly way – to render the highest sacrificial tribute. In that they bring about effective communication with the head – communion (= common union) – among them and between them and God.
During Mass many hearts form one heart, a plurality of people are mystically united, experiencing their common life and solidarity in their divine roots. They live in society with the divine, they are the assembly – the Christian body – which through the action of one of its ministers performs the act that brings God to men and women, and brings men and women to God. It imbues the people wandering on the earth with divine, sacramental powers, as well as providing didactic reminders of the good news, and dissolving in the fire of the altar their snares and slothfulness.
Igino Giordani
Noi e i preti
San Paolo, Roma 1942, p. 36