The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS. 355tongue from the origin of our language, and wefind it embodied in such words as Candlemas,Michael-mas, Martin-mas, and Christmas.The sacrifice of the Mass is the consecration ofthe bread and wine into the body and blood ofChrist, and the oblation of this body and bloodto God, by the ministry of the priest, for a perpetual memorial of Christ s sacrifice on the cross.The sacrifice of the Mass is identical with that ofthe cross, both havingthe same victim and HighPriest Jesus Christ.The only difference consists in the manner of theoblation. Christ was offered up on the cross in abloody manner, and in the Mass He is offered upin an unbloody manner. On the cross He purchased our ransom, and in the Eucharistic sacrifice the price of that ransom isapplied to oursouls. Hence, all the efficacy of the Mass is derived from the sacrifice of Calvary.It was on the night before He suffered that ourLord Jesus Christ instituted the sacrifice of theNew Law."Jesus," says St. Paul, "the night inwhich He was betrayed, took bread, and givingthanks, broke and said: Take ye and eat; this isMy body which shall be delivered for you. Thisdo for the commemoration of Me. In like manner also the chalice, after He had supped, saying:This chalice is the new testament inMy blood.This do ye, as often as you shall drink, for thecommemoration of Me for as often as ; ye shall