9781644135945

The Light of the World
With grateful hearts we recognize what God has done for us by the mysteries of Easter
and baptism; and therefore, after the Epistle we sing, “Alleluia, the right hand of the Lord hath
wrought strength, [by awakening us from the death of sin], the right hand of the Lord hath
exalted me [by baptism and sanctifying grace], alleluia. Christ [and in Christ, the Church and
all the baptized] rising again from the dead, dieth now no more. Death shall no more have dominion
over Him, alleluia.” Christ, and with Him the Church, lives as an eternal witness that the
world sins terribly by its unbelief, that He is sinless and holy, for otherwise He could not go to
the Father; He testifies that Satan, and with him all his followers, are already judged (Gospel).
We, the members of the Church, place ourselves at the side of Christ and joyfully sing the Credo.
Just as Christ presented Himself to His disciples on Easter evening, so, too, He comes among
us at the Consecration of the Mass. He abides with us. The offering which the Church, guided
and enlightened by the Comforter, offers continually to God, is a positive witness that Christ
lives, and that the world is convinced of sin if it refuses to believe in Him. It bears witness to the
fact that Christ is pure and holy and that He has overcome the prince of this world in Himself
and in His spiritual children.
This testimony of the Holy Ghost becomes more vital when we are united with Christ in His
sacrifice, in His life, and in His death. The Holy Ghost enables the Church, her priests, and her
faithful to unite themselves to Christ in His sacrifice so that their wills and their lives are changed
like the bread on the altar. Their manner of life and action is thus vivified by the life and action of
Christ. Thus the world can see and know through their actions that Christ lives in them. Christ
is a reality, and not a mere phantasy. He is pure and holy. He is stronger than death and sin and
Satan. He overcomes evil in all those who become a sacrifice with Him, and who take on His
spirit and life through the reception of Holy Communion. Thus they are transformed so that their
lives become a witness of Christ and of His holiness and His victory. Thus at the Consecration
is fulfilled what we heard in the earlier part of the Mass: Christ lives, and the Holy Ghost will
bear witness to Him and glorify Him (Gospel). And the Holy Ghost will do the same for us
who take part in this Holy Sacrifice. In the celebration of the Mass, He brings about a marvelous
transformation. He brings Christ down upon our altars and makes His presence in the hearts of
men a reality. He renews Christ, His real presence, His life, and His victory.
Meditation
The glorification of Christ was not completed by His resurrection from the dead. He goes to
the Father also as man, that He may take possession of His throne and, as the glorified Savior,
share with God dominion over the world. “Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle” (Introit). He
withdraws His visible presence from His disciples and from His Church that He may send
them the Holy Spirit in His place. But by means of the Holy Spirit, He will always remain with
them invisibly and spiritually. “If I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will
send Him to you” (Gospel).
“I go to Him that sent Me” (Gospel). Jesus withdraws His visible presence from His disciples
and from His Church. They must free themselves from their attachment to His human form;
they must give up the comfort and the solace of having Him physically near them and associating
with Him. They, too, must become spiritualized. Then only can He send them His Holy Spirit
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