E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE CREED. 61
the name Jesus brings before us the two natures of the
Word Incarnate. Besides the anointing of the Man
Jesus with grace, there is the higher anointing with the
Divinity whereby especially He is the Messiah long
expected by the nations. Christ is a Priest not by sacra
mental rites. His Priesthood began with His Incarna
tion, and it was completed by the sacrifice of His life
on Calvary. The best description of that Priesthood
is given by St. Paul in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Christ is also a Prophet. In Scripture prophet does
not mean exclusively one who foretells the future. It is
commonly used to signify a teacher. Christ is the great
Teacher of the world, from Him we learn the Gospel
that leads to Heaven. Before the coming of Christ, of
Him prophets spoke, and Christ in the flesh spoke of
His Father. Christ is King not only as God but as
" Man and as sharer of our nature. He shall reign in
the house of Jacob for ever and of His Kingdom there
shall be no end." (St. Luke i. 32, 33.) His Kingdom is
spiritual and for everlasting. It began on earth and
will be perfected at His second coming, when the whole
world shall be subject to Christ, and Christ at the head
of His elect shall as Man make His grand act of
submission to His Father and God shall be all in all.
(i Cor. xv. 28.)
The Only-begotten Son of God. The Council
refers to the eternal generation of Christ from His
Father. Christ is God, says the Athanasian Creed,
begotten before time from the substance of the Father,
born of the Father before all ages, and He is Man
born in time from the substance of His Mother. God
of God, that is, God begotten of God ; Light of Light,
uncreated Light proceeding everlastingly from un
created Light ; true God of true God,
true God