And what do we ourselves offer when we offer our bodies and blood with Jesus at Mass? We offer what Jesus offered: life and death. By "body" we offer all that actually constitutes our physical life: time, health, energy, ability, sentiments, perhaps just a smile, that only a spirit living in a body can give and which is so precious at times. By "blood," we express the offering of our death; not necessarily our final death, or martyrdom for Christ or our brethren. Death means also all that right now prepares and anticipates our death: humiliations, failures, sickness that cripples us, limits due to age or health, everything that "mortifies" us. When St. Paul exhorts us by the mercy of God to present "our bodies," he didn't mean just our senses and carnal appetites, but all of ourselves, body and soul; especially our minds and our wills. In fact he goes on to say: "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Rom 12:2).

The Eucharist, Our Sanctification
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa