E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

ioo THE THIRD PRAYER IN THE CANON.
THE THIRD PRAYER IN THE CANON
BEFORE THE CONSECRATION.
Which oblation do Thou, O God, vouchsafe in
all things to make *%* blessed, ^ approved, >J
rati
fied, reasonable, and acceptable, that it may become
to us the Body ^ and ^ Blood of Thy most
beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
EXPLANATION OF THE PRAYER.
This prayer is in close connection with the preceding
and serves as an immediate introduction to the act
of Consecration.
We ask God first to bless the bread and wine
(the Oblation) in the most perfect of all ways by trans
forming them into the Body and Blood of our Lord, the
source of all blessings to the world.
The Latin word adscriptam legitimate is variously
explained. Perhaps the best rendering is approved,
that is according to the directions prescribed, laid down
by our Lord at the Last Supper. Adscriptam, says Father
Suarez, may be taken to mean that the oblation should
be made as prescribed by our Lord in the words "
this in commemoration of Me "
Do
and consequently
legitimate.
The oblation will be ratified that is real, valid it
offered in the way ordained by
institution of the Blessed Eucharist ;
our Lord in the
thus a Sacrament