By Brea Cannon
Connecting Liturgy and Life
Editor’s note: For 2026, the weekly “Connecting Faith and Life” column has been renamed “Connecting Liturgy and Life.” The column consists of reflections on Part Two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), which focuses on the Liturgy and the Sacraments.
The Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist
cf. CCC 1348-1355
For centuries, the faithful have depicted the faith in the arts. The Bible alone gives us amazing poetry and is a profound work of literature. Think of the Psalms, the book of Proverbs or even the book of Revelation; all these books give us beauty in the written form. Some of our earliest sacred art is also attributed to the early Church; the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa painted on wood is traditionally attributed to St. Luke.
The study and beauty of art is so fascinating. It is truly amazing how some art pieces can turn our hearts and minds to heaven. One of my favorite sacred images reminds me of the depth of the Mass; the Ghent Altarpiece, specifically the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. This amazing work of art is a 12-panel polyptych — a piece of art divided into multiple panels. This work of art is attributed to the Flemish brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck from the 15th century. The painted panels magnificently walk through salvation history including Adam and Eve, God the Father, The Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, angels and the saints.
It is a masterpiece in the form of symbolism for the Mass and it has quite a history as well. From Napoleon stealing four panels for his art museum in Paris in the 18th century to German troops confiscating the entire altarpiece during WWII, the symbolic work of art has been sought after for decades. The altarpiece was even mentioned in the Treaty of Versailles as part of agreements when WWII came to a close. It is also believed that the altarpiece had been painted over multiple times throughout history.
The piece was described by Antonio de Beais, an art master, as, “the finest painting in Christendom.”
In the center pane of the altarpiece, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, the lamb, bleeds from its neck as a symbol for Jesus sacrificing his life in order to redeem mankind from its sins. The blood of the lamb flows into a chalice placed on the altar. This center panel of the larger piece relates to the Book of Revelation 5:11-14, “Then I, John, looked and heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, they were countless in number, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, ‘To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”
The Mass, like the altarpiece, is divided into multiple parts. At the beginning of the Mass we gather together in song and prayer. Jesus is the head of the Mass and we all have a part to play as the body. The priest or bishop act in persona Christi or in the person of Christ to preside over the congregation. The laity participate as Eucharistic ministers, readers, gift bears and as members that sing with one accord.
From the Liturgy of the Word to the epiclesis when the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to transform the bread and wine into the body and blood, the movements of the Mass point attention to the sacrifice, the “bread from heaven,” and the “cup of salvation,” the body and blood of Christ, the Lamb, who offered himself “for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
Just as art can lift our hearts and minds to heaven, the Mass moves us through the ultimate earthly experience — the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Take a look at the Ghent Altarpiece, you can simply do a search for it on the internet. The divinely inspired piece of art is a masterpiece of the ages. Its attention to detail and theological symbolism is profound. As you reflect on the beauty of the piece, let your heart be open to the wonder and awe of the Mass and movements that lead us to the ultimate earthly experience, the Eucharist.