The Mass: Its Sacrificial Meaning

Maronite Monks of Adoration ^ | March 2005

[armydoc]

What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do; Truth Himself speaks truly or there's nothing true. That about says it all, doesn't it?

Absolutely! When Jesus said his body was true food and his blood true drink, why can't we just take him at his word, literally?? After all, John 6:35 says "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty". We believers have all experienced the sudden freedom from having to eat and drink, haven't we? Sure, we eat and drink daily, but not out of hunger or thirst, right? Well, maybe we get a little hungry and thirsty from time to time. Actually, I find it hard to skip a single meal whithout hunger pangs. What gives?? We certainly can't interpret Christ's words SPIRITUALLY, can we?

[jo kus]

You said "...we do not need a robed priest in a Catholic Priesthood to claim to be of the order of Melchisedek(sp) and to make an offering of Christ at each mass."

We participate in what is happening continuously in heaven. Christ intercedes for us (in the present tense) in Hebrews and Romans. He continues this action. Why would He do that, following the Protestant's concept that all is done and there is nothing left for us to do? Also, note the verses I previously posted. Sacrifice continues to be part of Christianity. Why? Not because Christ's sacrifice was ineffective; it is because the merits of His sacrifice are to be applied to us today, 2000 years later. As to the need for priests, you will first have to see that the Eucharist is actually Christ. If you don't, naturally, the Mass will make no sense.

I submit, as the history of Christianity has proclaimed, the interpretations of what is happening during the Mass...
Take these as history, if you wish. There is no reason to doubt that these are what the Church believed in 100 AD.

But our opinion is in accordance with the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn establishes our opinion. For we offer to Him His own, announcing consistently the fellowship and union of the flesh and Spirit.(5) For as the bread, which is produced from the earth, when it receives the invocation of God, is no longer common bread,(6) but the Eucharist, consisting of two realities, earthly and heavenly; so also our bodies, when they receive the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, having the hope of the resurrection to eternity.
IRENAEUS AGAINST HERESIES -- BOOK IV, CHAPTER 18

"Accordingly, God, anticipating all the sacrifices which we offer through this name, and which Jesus the Christ enjoined us to offer, i.e., in the Eucharist of the bread and the cup, and which are presented by Christians in all places throughout the world, bears witness that they are well-pleasing to Him….For such alone Christians have undertaken to offer, and in the remembrance effected by their solid and liquid food, whereby the suffering of the Son of God(5) which He endured is brought to mind, whose name the high priests of your nation and your teachers have caused to be profaned and blasphemed over all the earth. JUSTIN THE MARTYR: CHRIST REFERS ALL THINGS TO THE FATHER AND OTHER ARTICLES -- CHAP. CXVII.--MALACHI'S PROPHECY CONCERNING THE SACRIFICES OF THE CHRISTIANS.

Take ye heed, then, to have but one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to [show forth(1)] the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: that so, whatsoever ye do, ye may do it according to [the will of] God.
THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE PHILADELPHIANS, CHAPTER 4

See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Christ Jesus does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles. Do ye also reverence the deacons, as those that carry out[through their office] the appointment of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper(18) Eucharist, which is[administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude[of the people] also be; by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude[of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE SMYRAEANS, CHAPTER 8

Seems like the Catholic interpretation is the same as that of the Church of circa 110 AD. Are you saying that the Church got it wrong ONE GENERATION after the apostles died off? I understand that the Fathers' interpretations in of themselves individually are not infallible, but as a historical basis of what Christianity BELIEVED, at least in 100 AD, is clear. It is Catholic. Where is your evidence or proof to show that the Church, EVERYWHERE, began to believe in a false Gospel so quickly, without a murmur of protest???

The problem, as I wrote to you last week, is that you refuse to see that God's Word includes BOTH Scripture AND Apostolic Tradition. The Bible itself doesn't say that it is the sole rule of faith. It says there are TWO rules of faith, given by word and orally. Your refusal to see this anti-Biblical idea called sola scriptura, a tradition of men, is AGAIN keeping you from seeing that another Catholic practice is in line with Scripture and the Apostle's Teachings from 2000 years ago.

If you say that the Church was wrong in 100 AD, then why do you agree with their claim that the New Testament is the Word of God? Why the inconsistency of the Authority given to the Church by Christ?

Regards

[BulldogCatholic]

Are you sure you are a Catholic versed in the faith with a statement like that? I mean to be charitable but that is the basis of our faith for goodness sakes!

[NeoCaveman]

You mistook biblewonk for a Catholic?

[lightman]

"O Lord, We Praise Thee"
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

1. O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee,
In thanksgiving bow before Thee.
Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish
Our weak souls that they may flouish:
O Lord, have mercy!
May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary,
That our sins and sorrows did carry,
And Thy blood for us plead
In all trial, fear, and need:
O Lord, have mercy!

2. Thy holy body into death was given,
Life to win for us in heaven.
No greater love than this to Thee could bind us;
May this feast thereof remind us!
O Lord, have mercy!
Lord, Thy kindness did so constrain Thee
That Thy blood should bless and sustain me.
All our debt Thou hast paid;
Peace with God once more is made:
O Lord, have mercy.

3. May God bestow on us His grace and favor
To please Him with our behavior
And live as brethren here in love and union
Nor repent this blest Communion!
O Lord, have mercy!
Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;
Grant that heavenly-minded He make us;
Give Thy Church, Lord, to see
Days of peace and unity:
O Lord, have mercy!

Hymn #313
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 118: 1
Author: unknown, c. 1400, St. 1
Author: Martin Luther, 1524, St. 2 & 3
Translated by: composite
Titled: "Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet" Tune: Gott sei gelobet
German melody, c. 1400

[NYer]

Beautiful! His catholic heritage shines forth in these words.

[biblewonk]

Why are you thinking I am a Catholic?

[biblewonk]

Because you show up so often on threads about Catholic beliefs?

Oh, I quess I have a passion for RC's and understanding why they believe what they believe since it is so clearly wrong.

[Pyro7480]

Oh, I quess I have a passion for RC's and understanding why they believe what they believe since it is so clearly wrong.

So say you.

[biblewonk]

So say you.

Confidently, with bible in hand.

[FourtySeven]

An interesting article and thread.

[Conservative til I die]

Confidently, with bible in hand.

You're a Protestant. The book you have in hand is not a Bible. It's at best 90.4% of a Bible.

[Conservative til I die]

Oh, I quess I have a passion for RC's and understanding why they believe what they believe since it is so clearly wrong.

Please don't feed us this pap. If you actually cared about learning what we believed, you'd have learned it by now, and hence would cease using easily disproven strawmen.

[diamond6]

I like your version of the morning offering!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

That is a good one!

[diamond6]

I have always tweeked the morning offering to address many needs in the world. I think I'm going to re-tailor it and use yours as a base (I really like your version).