Holy Thursday and Good Friday are one Sacrifice.
And this is the self-same sacrifice as the Sacrifice of the Mass --- same priest (Christ), same sacrificial offering same Body and Blood (Himself) --- not done "again," but made present as an eternal offering.
Holy Thursday AND Good Friday AND the Mass are one Sacrifice. This is eternal: this is the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world.
You have to stop and think of that a minute. "before the foundation of the world." That's why it has this aspect of being both "in time," and "timeless," beyond time. It is not repeated: it is extended into eternity.
Salvation itself --- what Heaven is --- is Communion with Christ and with all the saints (the Body of Christ) That is salvation: and the Sacrament of the Eucharist on earth is a foretaste of that Communion. It is a generous distribution of this (eternal) oneness --- He in us, we in Him --- right here on earth. It is an earthly partaking of the Heavenly Banquet.
It is for sure a remembrance, but far beyond what we could call a remembrance of earthly things, which is just nostalgia, or an imitation performance. THis is not cosplay. We are not re-enactors.
It is an actual participation in Christ's sacrifice now, on earth as it is in heaven. It is an actual participation in the past the (Upper Room, Calvary Hill) and the future (Heaven) at once, in this eternal now.
If it's to be called a symbol, then it is a symbol that conduces into reality, and a remembrance which does not just represent, but which RE - PRESENTS. It make us presently "present" with Christ, whose Real Presence is with us and in us.
In a way,it's not "preparation for Heaven" or "a way to get to Heaven", but it is Heaven itself, for it is Chris, and where He is, is Heaven.
IF you'd stopped in your first sentence you'd have NT Christianity down pat.
However, Roman Catholicism does not advance that.
Some of Rome's "doctors" advance the following:
Saint Anselm says, ‘that as it is impossible for one who is not devout to Mary, and consequently not protected by her, to be saved.
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Now that is a clear contradiction of the New Testament and is outright blasphemy.
Next we have this nonsense.
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In the Glories of Mary the following is recorded: Oh, how many would have remained obstinate in sin, and have been eternally lost,’ says Thomas a Kempis, ‘if Mary had not interposed with her Son, that He might show them mercy! It is also the opinion of many theologians, and of Saint Thomas in particular, that for many who have died in mortal sin the Divine Mother has obtained from God a suspension of their sentence, and a return to life to do penance Trustworthy authors give us many instances in which this has occurred….But these examples serve to revive our confidence with the reflection, that if the Divine Mother has been able to deliver from hell even some who have died in sin, how much more will she be able to preserve from a similar lot those who, during life, have recourse to her with a purpose of amendment, and who serve her faithfully!.... The same do I hope for myself, O my own most holy Queen; and therefore I will always repeat the words of Saint Bonaventure, ‘In thee, O Lady, have I placed all my hopes; and thus I confidently trust that I shall never be lost, but praise and love thee for ever in heaven.’
St Alphonsus de'Liguori, The Glories of Mary, p188-190
The book carries this statement: WE hereby approve of this Translation of "The Glories of Mary," and cordially recommend it to the Faithful. Nicholas Card. Wiseman, Archbisop of Westminster
To illustrate the statements above aren't from the average Roman Catholic I provide the following below.
To my knowledge none of their statements above have been repudiated by Rome.
Liguori was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius in 1871.
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IF these are not true would you be the first Roman Catholic to say these are all false?
Should be just a yes or no anwser.
Your carnal mind is stuck. The Remembrance ceremony which JESUS instituted is a spiritual interaction BUT ONLY the born again, born from above can make that spiritual connection in the breaking of bread and sip of wine, the SYMBOLS of the body sacrificed on the cross and the blood shed there on our behalf carried into the Holy of Holies to be sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat IN HEAVEN. In your carnal state you cannot receive that TRUTH, for it is SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.