E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

78
THE ORATE FRATRES.
EXPLANATION OF THE PRAYER SUSCIPE SANCTA TRINITAS.
This prayer clearly brings out certain points of
doctrine. The preceding prayers of the Offertory are
addressed to the Father and Holy Ghost this prayer
to the three persons of the Godhead, to whom alone
and not to the Blessed Virgin or the Saints the Sacrifice
of the Mass is offered. Sacrifice is (i) the supreme act
of worship to God alone. The offering is in memory of
the Passion, for the Eucharist, especially in the double
Consecration of bread and wine, is a memorial of His
Passion ; (2) in memory of the Resurrection, for the
immortal body of Jesus Christ is consecrated ; (3) in
memory of the Ascension, for Christ who died for us
and rose again in the same Body which lies in the
Eucharist, has ascended into Heaven to intercede for
us. The Sacrifice is offered in honour of our Lady and
the Saints ; not to them, and the motive is that our
Lady and the Saints may intercede for us in Heaven.
In honouring His Mother and the Saints we honour
our Lord in His best works.
Next the priest kisses the altar as a sign of affection
for the relics of the Saints buried there and much more
for our Lord, and turning towards the people, extending
and joining his hands, he raises his voice a little and
says:
Brethren, pray that my Sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty.
"
" Brethren
is used without distinction of sex. The
human race after Baptism is one family, we are baptized
children of God, we are strengthened by the same
Sacraments, fed by the same food, call God our Father,