E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

EXPLANATION OF ST. JOHN S GOSPEL. 147
EXPLANATION OF ST. JOHN S GOSPEL
AS READ AT MASS.
1. In the beginning, that is, in the beginning of
"
time as in Genesis, in the beginning God created
"
Heaven and earth : when God first created the Word,
or the Second Person of the Trinity, already existed.
With God does not mean separate existence from
God as there is only one God it means ; only such
distinction as exists between Producer and Produced,
a distinction of Person necessary because of the unity
of the same nature.
2. St. John repeats and inculcates the same truth
the Son the Word was in the beginning with God
one in nature, different in person.
3. All things were made by Him, that is, by the
Son. The Father creates through the Son in this sense,
that He communicates to the Son the essence and
power wherewith He creates along with the Father.
All creation capable of life was by the Son made
living,
made.
and apart from the Son no single thing was
4. In Him was life, that is, the true life of grace
and glory in its source and origin which by His Incar
" nation He gives to us. For the life was manifested
and we declare unto you the life eternal which was with
the Father and appeared to us." (i John i. 2.)
The life was the light of men : the life was the
true light of faith and grace, which proceeds from that
life.