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CHAP vii.] The Sacrilegious Mass. 129
Jews did not know the Redeemer as priests do. Besides,
as Tertullian says, the Jews lay hands on Jesus Christ
only once, but the sacrilegious priest dares frequently
to repeat this injurious treatment. 1 It is also necessary
to remark, that, according to the doctrine of theologians,
a priest by the sacrilegious celebration of Mass is guilty
of four mortal sins: i. Because he consecrates in the
state of sin, 2 Because he communicates in the state of
sin, 3 Because he administers the sacrament in the state
of sin; and, 4 Because he administers it to an unworthy
person, that is, to himself, who is in mortal sin.*
This made St. Jerome foam, through zeal, against the
Deacon Sabinian. Miserable wretch the !"
holy
Doctor, has it
happened that your eyes have not
grown dim, that your tongue has not been twisted,
that your arms have not fallen to the ground when you
dared to assist at the altar in the state of sin."
John Chrysostom teaches that a priest that approaches
the altar with a soul stained with mortal sin is far
worse than a devil. 3
For the devils tremble in the pres
ence of Jesus Christ We read in the life of St. Teresa
that when she was going to Communion one day she
saw with terror a devil on each side of the priest who
celebrated Mass in the state of mortal sin. The devils
trembled in the presence of the holy sacrament, and
manifested a desire to fly away. From the consecrated
Host Jesus said to the saint, Behold the force of the
words of consecration, and see, O Teresa, my goodness
2
St.
1 "
Semel Judaei Christo manus intulerunt ; isti quotidie corpus ejus
lacessunt. O manus praescindendae!" De Idol.
2
Miser non caligaverunt oculi tui, lingua torpuit, conciderunt
brachia !"
3 "
Ep. ad Sabian.
Multo daemonic pejor est, qui, peccati conscius, accedit ad
altare." In Matt. horn. 83.
* Cfr. our Moral Theology,
1. 6, n. 35, and V. Hinc dicimus^
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