No where does Pope Francis reference the Meal because the Sacrifice comes first with all its grace-filled implications.
Like the Baltimore Catechism does, the Holy Banquet is described in a separate chapter following the Chapter on the Sacrifice and its graces apart from actually receiving Holy Communion, which in the Catechism must be received without stain of sin, in one's baptismal purity.
Pope Francis: the wonders of the priesthood of Christ
(Vatican Radio) The great wonders of the priesthood of Christ, who offered Himself, once for all, for the forgiveness of sins; and who now intercedes for us before the Father; and who will return to bring us with Him: those are the three stages of the priesthood of Christ highlighted by Pope Francis during his homily at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope also warned of the “unforgivable blasphemy”: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
The priesthood of Christ was at the centre of the Pope’s homily on Monday. His reflection was taken from the day’s first Reading, from the Letter of Hebrews, which speaks about Christ as the Mediator of the Covenant God has made with human beings. Jesus is the High Priest, and the priesthood of Christ is the great wonder, the greatest wonder, which makes us sing a new song to the Lord, as the Responsorial Psalm says.
The three stages of the priesthood of Christ: He offers Himself; He intercedes for us; He will return to bring us to the Father
The priesthood of Christ takes place in three stages, the Pope said. The first is the redemption: while the priests of the Old Covenant had to offer sacrifices every year, “Christ offered Himself, once for all, for the forgiveness of sins.” With this marvel, “He has brought us to the Father… He has re-created the harmony of creation,” the Pope noted. The second wonder is what the Lord is doing now – that is, praying for us. “While we pray here, He is praying for us” “for each one of us,” Pope Francis emphasized: “now, living, before the Father, He intercedes,” so that the faith might not falter. How often, in fact, are priests asked to pray, the Pope said, because “we know that the prayer of the priest has a certain force, especially in the sacrifice of the Mass.” The third wonder will be when Christ returns; but this third time will not be in relation to sin, but rather, it will be “to establish the definitive Kingdom,” when He will bring all of us to the Father:
“There is this great wonder, this priesthood of Jesus in three stages – that in which He pardons sins, once for all; that in which He intercedes now for us; and that which will occur when He returns. But there is also the contrary: the ‘unforgivable blasphemy.’ It’s hard to hear Jesus saying these things, but He says it, and if He says it, it is true. ‘Amen I say to you, all will be forgiven the children of men’ – and we know that the Lord forgives everything if we open our hearts a bit. Everything! The sins and even the blasphemies they speak – even blasphemies will be pardoned! – but the one who will have blasphemed the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in eternity.”
“The unforgivable blasphemy”: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, will not allow itself to be forgiven
To explain this, the Pope referred to the great priestly anointing of Jesus, which the Holy Spirit accomplished in the womb of Mary; as priests, in the ceremony of ordination, are anointed with oil:
“Even Jesus as the High Priest received this anointing. And what was the first anointing? The flesh of Mary with the work of the Holy Spirit. And he who blasphemes about this, blasphemes about the foundation of the love of God, which is the redemption, the re-creation; blasphemy about the priesthood of Christ. ‘But the Lord does not forgive that wickedness?’ [you might ask]. ‘No! The Lord forgives everything!’ But one who says these things is closed to forgiveness. He doesn’t want to be forgiven! He doesn’t allow himself to be forgiven! This is the ugliness of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: It does not allow itself to be forgiven, because it denies the priestly anointing of Jesus, accomplished by the Spirit.”
Do not close your heart before the wonders of the priesthood of Christ
In conclusion, the Pope returned to the great wonders of the priesthood of Christ, and also to the “unforgivable blasphemy” – unforgivable “not because the Lord does not want to forgive everything, but because this [person] is so closed that he does not allow himself to be forgiven: the blasphemy against this wonder of Jesus”:
Today it would be good for us, during the Mass, to consider that here on the altar the living memorial is made – because He will be present here – of the first priesthood of Jesus, when He offers His life for us. There is also the living memorial of the second priesthood, because He will pray here. But also, in this Mass – we will say it after the Our Father – there is that third priesthood of Jesus, when He will return, and [that is] our hope of glory. In this Mass, let us think about these beautiful things. And let us ask for grace from the Lord that our hearts might never be closed – might never be closed! – to this wonder, to this great, freely-given wonder.”
11 comments:
Not until I read your headline had I ever heard anyone refer to it as "The Holy Meal of the Mass."
Is it a meal? Of course. Is it a sacrifice? Of course. It is, in God's marvelous and inscrutable wisdom, both.
The Bishop of Rockford Illinois has STRUCK DOWN SUMMORUM PONIFICUM, Bishop John Malloy has ended ALL TLM's and no priest can even celebrate ad orientem without his PERMISSION, and so the great backlash begins my friends. No the revival that Pope Benedict started is under full attack as most of us here knew would happen, when will the Holy Ghost send us a savior in Rome and end once and for all this 50 years of living in the desert. Restore the True Mass, altar boys only, Gregorian chant, Latin, organ, high altar, kneelers, statues, communion rail, deacons, sub-deacons, and all that the TRUE ROMAN CHURCH ONCE TAUGHT, WHEN????????????
Remember this was the "karaoke" Bishop of Rockford which says alot for his disdain of the TLM. Well folks the battle for the restoration goes on and will it ever end? Only Our Lord and Our Lady know for sure, but one thing I know is I for one will die fighting for it, with every breath of my body.
Father Z. and Rorate both have the articles on this abuse by Bishop Malloy.
Father Z. makes a great point when he asks, can you imagine if a bishop stopped ALL SPANISH Masses, that would be "un-pastoral" and there would be hell to pay, but hey deny Traditional Roman Catholics their RIGHT to have the TLM and that is just dandy. But continue to have Spanish, Creole, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Portuguese, Italian, German, French, Arabic Masses but not in the OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE CHURCH LATIN!! Folks, this is all done on purpose we know after 50 years the hatred of the TLM by many many bishops and priests they will NEVER NEVER give up on destroying the True Mass of All Times, so just like the Left says, we will say it RESIST RESIST RESIST we have had it up to here with this Novus Ordo nonsense and the time is NOW to take back the Church.
Father Z. makes a great point when he asks, can you imagine if a bishop stopped ALL SPANISH Masses, that would be "un-pastoral" and there would be hell to pay, but hey deny Traditional Roman Catholics their RIGHT to have the TLM and that is just dandy. But continue to have Spanish, Creole, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Portuguese, Italian, German, French, Arabic Masses but not in the OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE CHURCH LATIN!! Folks, this is all done on purpose we know after 50 years the hatred of the TLM by many many bishops and priests they will NEVER NEVER give up on destroying the True Mass of All Times, so just like the Left says, we will say it RESIST RESIST RESIST we have had it up to here with this Novus Ordo nonsense and the time is NOW to take back the Church.
Can anyone here tell me why and what are the bishops so "afraid" of the TLM, I NEVER understood the intense and yes hatred of the the Mass of many Cardinals, bishops and older priests of the their childhood and yes even their ordination, what is the FEAR of it? Please give your opinions, there has to be more than the hatred of Latin. When I see a Novus Ordo Mass with dancing girls in black leotards, altar girls, kiss of peace, hand holding, drums, guitars, folk, rock, mariachi music, communion in the hand while standing, lay lectors, communion given by women, giant puppets, as an adult MAN I ask myself: what the hell is this?? Do all of you really think this is Roman Catholicism?
Can anyone here tell me why and what are the bishops so "afraid" of the TLM
Because TLM inculcates, sustains, and is so inseparable from the faith and doctrines of historic Catholicism, that its mere existence is an admonition to those who have lost their faith, a constant reminder of their apostasy.
Henry,
True. If we're honest, we have to admit that we now have in the Catholic Church two competing religions, one sacrificial, the other secular.
Indeed put both forms back to back and stand back and watch them: one is the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary and the other is ALL ABOUT THE PRIEST AND THE PEOPLE IN THE PEWS NOT Our Lord, yes I understand I will get holy hell for saying that however I NEVER said the Novus Ordo is not valid it is, but there is a HUGE difference and it shows! The movements, gestures, and sublime nature of the TLM says it all. I too ask the question why do the elderly priests and bishops who were raised with the TLM hate it the most, the sheer venom they lodge at it is truly scary. I for one am no fan of the Nouvs Ordo, however I would NEVER deny it nor denounce it for all of its faults, yes I attend the TLM exclusively and know it is my salvation.
Boy, Henry nailed it. The NO is a hymn to unbelief.
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