A. It is called the Sacrifice of the Mass. Q. What, then, is the Mass ? A. It is the unbloody sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ 2. And I saw and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth (Apoc. v. 6). But Christ, being come an highpriest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, that is, not of this creation: neither by the blood of goats, or of calves, but by His own blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh : how much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost of fered Himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? And therefore He is the Mediator of the new testament: that by means of His death, for the redemption of those transgressions, which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance (Heb. ix. 11). And they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts ii. 42). For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech (Heb. vii. 17). And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue: but this, that He continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood. 2 See note D, the Ancient Liturgies on the Real Presence. Q. What are the ends for which this sacrifice is offered ? A. First. For God's honour and glory. Secondly. As a thanksgiving for all His benefits. Thirdly. For obtaining pardon of our sins. And fourthly. For obtaining all graces and blessings through Jesus Christ. Whereby He is able also to save for ever them that come to God by Him always living to make intercession for us. For it was fitting that we should have such a highpriest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices first for His own sins, and then for the people's for this He did once, in offering Himself (Heb. vii. 23). Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened. For Christ our pasch, is sacrificed (1 Cor. v. 7). And it came to pass after many days, that Cain offered, of the fruits of the earth, gifts to the Lord. Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat (Gen. iv. 3). And Noe built an altar unto the Lord and taking of all cattle and fowls that were clean, offered holocausts upon the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man for the imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done (Gen. viii. 20). But Melchisedech, the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and wine, for he was the priest of the Most High God, blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, who created heaven and earth (Gen. xiv. 18). And Abraham said: God will provide Himself a victim for a holocaust, my son. So they went on together. And they came to the place which God had shewn him, where he built an altar, and laid the wood in order upon it: and when he had bound Isaac his son, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood. And he put forth his hand and took the sword, to sacrifice his son. And behold an Angel of the Lord from heaven called to him, saying Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am. And he said to him: Lay not thy hand upon the boy, neither do thou any thing to him: Now I know that thou fearest God, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for My sake. Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw behind his back a ram amongst the briers sticking fast by the horns, which he took and offered for a holocaust instead of his son (Gen. xxii. 8). Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin, Thou wouldst not, neither are they pleasing to Thee, which are offered according to the law. Then said I, Behold, I come to do Thy will, O God: He taketh away the first, that He may establish that which followeth. In the which will, we are sanctified by the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ once (Heb. x. 8). For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it : with burnt-offerings Thou wilt not be delighted. A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and an humbled heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Deal favourably, O Lord, in Thy good-will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then shalt Thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt-offerings: then shall they lay calves upon Thy altar (Ps. 1. 18). For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, My name is great Q. Is it not also a memorial of the passion and death of our Lord? A. Yes; for Christ, at His last supper, commanded it to be offered in remembrance of Him. Q. How should we hear Mass? A. With great attention and devotion. among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to My Name a clean oblation for My Name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of Hosts (Mal. i. II). So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many: the second time He shall appear without sin, to them that expect Him unto salvation (Heb. ix. 28). And He said to them: With desire I have desired to eat this pasch with you before I suffer. For I say to you, that from this time I will not eat it, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And having taken the chalice He gave thanks, and said: Take, and divide it among you. For I say to you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God come (S. Luke xxii. 15). For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until He come (1 Cor. xi. 26). He hath made a remembrance of His wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord: He hath given food to them that fear Him (Ps. cx. 4). And the four living creatures had each of them six wings and round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come. And when those living creatures gave glory and honour and benediction to Him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever the four-and-twenty ancients fell down before Him that sitteth on the throne, and adored Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, and honour, and power: because Thou hast created all things, and for Thy will they were, and have been created (Apoc. iv. 8). In the year that king Ozias died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and elevated: and His train filled the temple. Upon it stood the Seraphim: the one had six wings, and the other had six wings: with two they covered his face, and with two they covered his feet, and with two they flew. And they cried one to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God of Hosts, all the earth is full of His glory. And the lintels of the doors were moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: Woe is me, because I have held my peace; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people that hath unclean lips, and I have seen with my eyes the King the Lord of Hosts. And one of the Seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a live coal, which he had taken with the tongs off the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: Behold this hath touched thy lips, and thy iniquities shall be taken away, and thy sin shall be cleansed (Isa. vi. 1). When you come therefore together into one place, it is not now to eat the Lord's supper. For every one taketh before his Own supper to eat. And one indeed is hungry, and another is drunk. What, have you not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God: and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? Do I |