E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE THIRD PRAYER IN THE CANON. 101
properly administered we speak of as real, valid as
Baptism, Marriage, &c.
The offering or sacrifice is said to be reasonable
(compare St. Paul s expression, the reasonable homage of
our faith), because on the altar the Victim offered is
the Lamb of God, Uncreated Reason and Wisdom, quite
different from the Sacrifices of the Old Law where the
victims were animals without reason. Adorned by
these four qualities the Sacrifice of the Body and
Blood of Jesus Christ is infallibly acceptable to the
Eternal Father.
That it may become to us the Body ^ and
4- Blood of Thy most beloved Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord.
These words express the essence of the Sacri
fice offered by the consecration, and the essential
change in the matter of the Sacrifice. Bread and wine
become for us the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. For
us, that is, for our Salvation. The Angel said to the
" For this day is born to you
shepherds in Luke (ii. u) :
a Saviour who is Christ the Lord in the city of David."
This prayer is accompanied by five signs of the
Cross. They are made over the bread and wine at the
words, blessed, approved, and ratified, one is made
over the host alone at the word Body, and another over
the chalice at the word Blood. The connection
between the sign of the Cross and the Crucifixion is
evident. The first three signs of the Cross remind us
of the Blessed Trinity, by whose power the consecra
tion of the bread and wine is effected. Some pious
souls see in the five signs of the Cross a reminder of the
five wounds of our Lord.