Whenever a sacrifice is offered, the obvious question is: Why is it being offered? Are we offering the sacrifice of the Mass to pay off the debt of my sins? To appease a blood thirsty God? To gain His favor so that He will look favorably upon my prayers? In the Roman Canon we pray that the sacrifice and our offerings are given first for God’s holy catholic Church. What immediately follows from this point is not an individual act or benefit. From a prayer for peace, through the Pope, our Bishop, all who hold to the truth of the apostolic faith, servants of the Lord and finally to the ones gathered, it directs the intention of Christ’s own sacrifice.