At the Last Supper, which was a celebration of Passover, Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist to commemorate his Sacrifice on the Cross and Resurrection, which was the definitive Passover that delivered his people from their sins.
The celebration of Passover was a Jewish feast commemorating the day that God had delivered the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. His own Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension are the New Passover of the New Covenant by which the faithful are saved from their bondage to sin and enter new life in Heaven. In consecrating the bread and cup at the meal and directing his Apostles to repeat this act as a memorial of his Death and Resurrection, Christ established the celebration of the Eucharist, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as the celebration of this New Passover. (Cf. CCC 1339, 1362)
The liturgical celebration of the Eucharist makes the New Passover of Christ present again in three ways:
This threefold commemoration of the Eucharist is reflected in the various prayers of the Memorial Acclamation, for example: "When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, / we proclaim your Death, O Lord / until you come again." (Cf. CCC 1403, 1409)
-The Didache Bible
The English word “Mass” comes from the Latin word "missa", which means to be “sent.” This Latin word has been used since the 6th or 7th century to describe the Catholic celebration of the Eucharist, our main liturgical service.
At one time, the people were dismissed with the words "Ite, missa est" (literally meaning "Go, she—meaning you, the Church—has been sent"). The word "Missa" is related to the word "missio," the root of the English word "mission."
The liturgy does not simply come to an end. Those assembled are sent forth to bring the fruits of the Eucharist to the world.
Holy Mass (Missa), because the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the sending forth (missio) of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God's will in their daily lives. (Catecism of the Catholic Church 1332)
The Mass is a Sacrifice because it is a participation in the one Sacrifice of Christ, which is made present through the Eucharistic liturgy.
Christ died for our sins once and for all, and his one perfect Sacrifice atones for all of our sins for all time. Because of this, there is no need for the Temple sacrifices of the Old Law, where animals or goods of the harvest were burned in atonement. Yet the Eucharistic liturgy of the Church—the Mass, or Divine Liturgy—remains a holy Sacrifice because it is a sharing in the one Sacrifice of Christ, which is re-presented, or made present among us, each time the Eucharist is celebrated. (Cf. CCC 613-614,1382,1545)
When Christ consecrated the bread and wine at the Last Supper, he instructed his Apostles, "Do this in memory of me." (Luke 22:19) The idea of remembrance, or memorial, in this context refers not to the mere calling to mind of a past event but rather a re-living, or a re-presentation, in a mystical way the event of Christ's eternal Sacrifice on the Cross. "The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross...The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice"(CCC 1366-1367). (Cf. CCC 611, 323,1330,1545, 1566)
The Mass is also called a Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for God's creation, which he has given us. (Cf. CCC 1357,1359)
-The Didache Bible