E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE SECOND PART OF THE PRAYER. in
Holy. The signs of the Cross before the Consecration
really bless the bread and wine and prepare them for
transubstantiation ; after the Consecration they are to
be considered as Commemorations they are in memory
of Christ s Passion. The five crosses may be con
sidered to refer to the Five Wounds of our Lord. (See
Benedict XIV. De Miss. sect. i. c. 277.)
THE SECOND PART OF THE PRAYER.
Extending his hands the Priest proceeds :
Supra quae propitio ac Upon
which vouchsafe to
sereno vultu respicere dig- look with a propitious and
neris : et accepta habere, serene countenance, and to
sicuti accepta habere dignatus accept them, as Thou wert
es munera pueritui justi Abel, graciously pleased to accept
et sacrificium patriarchae the gifts of Thy just servant
nostri Abrahae, et quod tibi Abel, and the sacrifice of our
obtulit summus sacerdos tuus Patriarch Abraham, and that
Melchisedech, sanctum sacri- which Thy high priest Melchificium,
immaculatam hostiam. sedech offered to Thee, a holy
Sacrifice and a spotless
Victim.
EXPLANATION OF THE PRAYER.
As already stated, though
in Itself the Adorable
Victim on the altar is of infinite value, nevertheless
the Church prays that the Victim be accepted from a
sinner s hands with a propitious and serene counten
ance.
The gifts of Thy just servant Abel the allusion
is to Genesis (iv. 4), where it is said that the Lord
accepted Abel and his offerings. The offerer and
offering were both acceptable.