fice of the Mass, we must distinguish the outward visible action performed, and the invisible change made of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. In both cases the outward action is performed by men, authorized by Jesus Christ for that purpose; but the inward effect produced, both by the sacraments and in the sacrifice, is wholly and solely the work of God.

Q. 34. How great is the dignity of this holy sacrifice?

A. We observed above that the sacrifices of the Old Law being only types and figures of the good things then to come, had no merit nor value in themselves, and were acceptable to God only in as much as they proceeded from, and were accompanied with, the interior sacrifice of the hearts of the offerers, and were types of Jesus Christ, and offered through faith in a Redeemer then to come. But the case is quite different with the sacrifice of the Mass; for this is of such infinite value in itself, that it is always most acceptable to Almighty God, independent of the disposition of the offerers. It is true, it will not be agreeable to him as coming from our hands, except we offer it with the proper interior dispositions; nay, if we be illdisposed at that time, or offer it without due devotion and attention, it will even be a means of provoking his indignation against us for profaning, by our ill-dispositions, so sacred a mystery; but, in itself, and as offered by Jesus Christ our Chief Priest, it is always agreeable to him. Hence, without all doubt, it is the most sublime and the most august mystery in the Christian religion, and the most divine action that can possibly be done by man. This will easily appear, if we consider the infinite dignity of the victim offered, the infinite sanctity of the High Priest who offers it, the admirable effects produced by it in giving infinite honour to Almighty God, incredible joy to all the

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angels and saints in heaven, obtaining innumerable blessings for man, and bringing ease and refreshment to the souls of the faithful departed; and, lastly, if we reflect on the sacred mystery which is there celebrated, to wit, the passion and death of Jesus Christ, there represented, continued, and renewed.

Q. 35. What consequences naturally flow from

all this?

A. (1.) That we ought to have the highest esteem and veneration for this adorable sacrifice. (2.) That we ought frequently to be present at it; and to let no consideration less than real necessity, hinder us from assisting at it upon those days in which we are commanded to render this homage to God. (3.) That, when present at it, we should behave ourselves with the most profound reverence, devotion, and attention. (4.) That we should have the greatest confidence of obtaining every good grace from God, through the merits of this holy mystery. And (5.) That we ought to get ourselves well instructed in every thing that belongs to it, and particularly in the way of assisting at it with most profit to our souls.

Q. 36. To whom is the sacrifice of the Mass offered?

A. From what has been said above, it is plain, that it can be offered to none but God alone; and, therefore, when we speak of the Mass of the blessed Virgin, of St. Peter, or the like, we do not mean that the Mass is offered to the blessed Virgin, or to St. Peter, but to God in honour of them; that is, in thanksgiving for all the graces bestowed upon them in this life, and for the glory they now enjoy in his kingdom.

Q. 37. By whom is the Mass offered ?

A. (1.) Chiefly and principally by Jesus Christ, who, properly speaking, is alone both our High

priest and victim. (2.) By the bishops and priests of his Church, who are his ministers and deputies, whom he makes use of for performing the outward and visible celebration of this sacritice here upon earth in his stead. (3.) By the faithful who are present, who also offer it up with the priest, and by his hands, as their common sacrifice. (4.) By the whole Church upon earth, who offers it up also every time it is celebrated; for the priest is the public minister of the Church, and offers up this holy sacrifice in her name, and for her benefit. Hence, at every Mass, there is a real spiritual communion of all the faithful upon earth.

Q. 38. For whom is the Mass offered?

A. The Mass is the common sacrifice of the whole Church, both triumphant, militant, and suffering, and is offered up by Jesus Christ our head, for his whole body, in all these three different states. We, therefore, joining with Christ our head, offer it up also for the whole Church in heaven, upon earth, and in purgatory. For those in heaven, in thanksgiving to God for all their happiness; for the Church on earth, according to the four great ends of sacrifice; and for the souls in purgatory, to obtain relief to their sufferings, and a speedy admittance to eternal glory.

SECTION III.

PROOFS FROM SCRIPTURE OF THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.

Q. 39. CAN it be proved from Scripture that Our Saviour actually instituted the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass ?

A. Nothing is more clearly laid down, both in the Old and New Testament; for in the Old Tes

tament it is frequently foretold, that in the Church of Christ there shall never be wanting Priests and Levites to offer up sacrifice continually, that the converted nations should worship God by sacrifices, and that priests should be taken out of all nations for this purpose, and pure offering made to God throughout the whole world among the Gentiles. And in the New Testament, we find that Jesus Christ instituted and offered up this sacrifice himself, and commanded it to be done by his followers till his second coming.

Q. 40. What are the proofs from the Old Testament?

A. The first is taken from Jeremiah, who says, "Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform the good word that I have spoken to the house of Israel, and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, I will make the bud of justice to spring forth unto David; and he shall do judgment and justice in the earth. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell securely; and this is the name that they shall call him, The Lord, our just one. For thus saith the Lord, There shall not be cut off from David a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel: neither shall there be cut off from the Priests and Levites a man before my face, to offer holocausts, and to burn sacrifice, and to kill victims continually," Jerem. xxxiii. 14. On this passage, we must observe (1.) That it evidently relates to the Messiah and his kingdom; for he is the good thing promised to the house of Israel and to Judah from the beginning, and to him alone agree these titles, "the bud of justice," and " the Lord our just one,' (2.) That God here promises, that David shall never want a man to sit upon his throne. This is evidently applied to Christ by the angel Gabriel,

when he told the blessed Virgin that her Son should "be great, and be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his Father, and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end," Luke i. 32. (3.) That God promises, that in this spiritual kingdom of Christ, the priesthood shall never fail, and that the office of these priests shall be to offer sacrifice continually; and of what kind these sacrifices are, we know from the nature of Christ's priesthood, "Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech."

Then the Prophet goes on to shew the firmness of this promise, "Thus saith the Lord, if my covenant with the day can be made void and my covenant with the night, that there should not be day and night in their season; then may also my covenant with David my servant be made void, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne, and with the priests and Levites his ministers," ver. 20. Nothing could be said. stronger than these words, to shew the firmness and perpetuity of this promise made to the Church and to the priesthood. The day and the night shall end before it be broken; besides, it is an absolute promise without any condition annexed to it; every thing in it is certain, fixed, and irrevocable. The prophet then adds, "as the stars of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sands of the sea be measured, so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites my ministers," vers. 22. Here we see foretold the vast multitudes of the spiritual children of David, the followers of Christ, and of the priests and Levites of the Christian Church, both of which we find actually verified in fact.