So 1. In the mass, Christ is symbolicly sacrificed as part of the same sacrifice on Calvary, by his being present in the Eucharist and it's destruction to appease God for our sins. The same sacrifice as Calvary except that it is unbloody, and we do this for the forgiveness of our sins.
No. There is no "symbolic re-sacrificing". It is a re-presentation, (a making present), of the one time, once and for all eternity, sacrifice of our Lord on Cavalry's cross. The word "sacrifice" is used to denote the making present of the one sacrifice of Christ the Saviour, not any re-sacrificing of Him, over and over. What is actually being repeated, is the Lord's Supper which He commanded, "Do this in memory of me."CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 1337 "The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: "The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different." "And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner. . . this sacrifice is truly propitiatory."
And 2. While this is going on the priest is spiritualy Christ. Also in the confessional, he is also spiritually Christ. Is that it broken down before the explinations? About the sacrifice of the mass, if it is not another sacrifice, why is it called a sacrifice? Why isn't it called "a representation of the sacrifice of Jesus" instead of "the sacrifice".
a. Yes, the priest acts In persona Christi
. St. John Chrysostom declares: "It is not man that causes the things offered to become the Body and Blood of Christ, but he who was crucified for us, Christ himself. The priest, in the role of Christ, pronounces these words, but their power and grace are God's. This is my body, he says. This word transforms the things offered."
Just as in the confessional, the priest (Presbyterate-bishop & priest) as a person can forgive, (as you and I can and should), but sacramental forgiveness and absolution is done in his capacity to act in the person of Christ the Head.Jesus showed himself to his apostles. "He breathed on them, and said to them: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained"' (Jn 20:19, 22-23).
b. As to the latter, because it makes present in a real way, (not just symbolically), Christ's once and for all, sacrifice on the cross. Christ is truly present in Holy Eucharist. It is the one time 'sacrifice' of Calvary, made present and real, but not repeated.
Also, the comment about "anyone with common Catholic education" maybe valid. You need to write the Diocese of Memphis and complain, that from 1970 to 1983 they didn't teach these things specifically. I attended regularly, and paid attention, and participated. We learned the gifts of the holy spirit, forgiveness, etc. but this was not part of the classes. Also, my daughter and stepdaughters were in a discussion about Idols, and I asked them who Moses was. My daughter, a senior in high school, who went to PRE all her life, didn't know. My stepdaughter said "didn't he free the Egyptians".
Well, I can't know for certain what was taught or not taught in that diocese during that time. It is possible that catechises was not being properly handled, instruction may have been lacking, or perhaps misunderstanding or missing of important tenets of the faith were possible on the part of those receiving instruction, but the Church including the Diocese of Memphis, uses the same tools of instruction, the Catechism for example, in every diocese around the world.