The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

S20THE EUCHARIST, TRANSUBSTANTIATION, THE MASS.that this sacrifice isreally propitiatory, and made by Christhimself. .... Assm'edly God is appeased by this oblation,and grants grace and the gift of penitence, and dischargesthe greatest crimes and inicjuities. For it is oneand the same sacrifice which is now offered by the priests,and which was offered by Christ upon the cross, only themode of offering is different Wherefore it isrightly ofi'ered, according to the tradition of the apostles,not only for the sins, punishments, satisfactions, and othernecessities of living believers, but also for the dead in Christ,who are not yet completely purified."* The fathers of Trentestablish this doctrine by the very peculiar logic with whichthey establish all the more unintelligible of their dogmas,that is, they present it to the understanding, and drive ithome with an anathema. " Whoever shall affirm,*'*' say thei'athers, " that the sacrifice of the mass is nothing more thanan act of praise and thanksgiving, or that it is simply commemorativeof the sacrifice offered on the cross, and not alsopropitiatory, or that it benefits only the person who receivesit, nor ought to be offered for the living and thedead, forsins, punishments, satisfactions, and whatever besidesmay be requisite, let him be accursed.*"-]- The practiceof the Church is in full accordance with the decree ofTrent, The :— following prayer accompanies the oblation ofthe host " Accept, Holy Father, Almighty and EternalGod, this unspotted host, which Ithy unworthy servantoffer unto thee, my living and true God, for my innumerablesins, offences, and negligences, and for all here present ;also for all faithful Christians, both living and dead ; thatit may avail both me and them to everlasting life.—Amen.*"|It is the doctrine of the Church of Rome, then, as taughtby her great council, that in the sacrifice of the mass atonementis made for sin.§ But we think that we can discoveras* Concil. Trid. sess. xxii. cap. ii. ; Perrone's Pro9lectiones Theological,torn. ii. p. 260.+ Concil. Trid. sess. xxii. can. iii. J Ordinary of the Mass.§ Theol. Mor. et Dog. Petri Dens, torn. v. p. 370.