The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS. 361you apply to yourself the merits of Christ s Passion.I will tell you, in like manner, that in the sacrificeof the Mass I apply to myself the merits of thesacrifice of the cross, from which the Mass derivesall its efficacy. Christ, indeed, by His death, madea full atonement for our sins. But He has not released us from the obligation of co-operating withHim by applying His merits to our souls. Andwhat better or more efficaciousway can we have ofparticipating in His merits, than by assisting at thesacrifice of the altar, where we vividly recall to mindHis sufferings, where Calvary is represented beforeus, where "we show the death of the Lord until Hecome," and where we draw abundantly to our soulsthe fruit of His Passion, by drinking of the sameblood that was shed on the cross?Iii the Old Law there were different kinds of sacrifices offered up for different purposes. There weresacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God for Hisbenefits ;sacrifices of propitiation to implore Hisforgiveness for the sins of the people; and sacrificesof supplication to ask His blessing and protection.The sacrifice of the Mass fulfils all these ends. Itis a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, a sacrificeof propitiation and of supplication; and hence thatvalued book, the "Following of Christ" says thatwhen a Priest celebrates Mass, he honors God, herejoices the angels, he edifies the Church, he helpsthe living, he obtains rest for the dead, and makeshimself a partaker of all that is good."To form an81