Continuing Encyclical
The Sacred Liturgy
By Pope Pius XII
November 20, 1947

PART II
EUCHARISTIC WORSHIP

                                                                                

I.  THE NATURE OF THE EUCHARISTIC SACRIFICE

66.   The Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist which Christ, the High Priest instituted, and which He commands to be continually renewed in the Church by His Ministers, is the Culmination and Center, as it were, of the Christian Religion.  We consider it opportune in speaking about the crowning act of the Sacred Liturgy, to delay for a little while and call your attention, Venerable Brethren, to this most important subject.
67.   Christ the Lord, "Eternal Priest according to the Order of Melchisedech," (Psalm, 109, 4.) "loving His own who were in the world," (Iaon., 13:1.)  "at the Last Supper, on the night He was betrayed, wishing to leave His Beloved Spouse, the Church, a Visible Sacrifice, such as the nature of men requires, that would re-present the Bloody Sacrifice offered once on the Cross, and perpetuate It's memory to the end of time, and whose salutary Virtue might be applied in remitting those sins which we daily commit, . . . offered His Body and Blood under the Species of bread and wine to God the Father, and under the same Species allowed the Apostles, whom He at that time Constituted the Priests of the New Testament, to partake thereof; commanding them and their successors in the Priesthood to make the same Offering." (Conc. Trid., Sess. XXII, c. 1.)

It is a true Renewal of the Sacrifice of the Cross

68.   The august Sacrifice of the Altar, then, is no mere empty commemoration of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, but a true and proper Act of Sacrifice, whereby the High Priest by an Unbloody Immolation offers Himself a most acceptable Victim to the Eternal Father, as He did upon the Cross.  "It is One and the same Victim; the same Person now offers It by the Ministry of His Priests, Who then offered Himself on the Cross, the manner of offering alone being different." (Ibidem., c. 2.)

a) The same Priest
69.   The Priest is the same, Jesus Christ, whose Sacred Person His Minister represents.  Now the Minister by reason of the Sacerdotal Consecration which he has received, is made like to the High Priest and possesses the Power of performing actions in virtue of Christ's very Person. (Cf. S. Thom., Summa Theol., III. q. XXII, a. 4.)  Wherefore in his Priestly activity he in a certain manner "lends his tongue, and gives his hand" to Christ.(Ioan. Chrys., In Ioan. Hom., 86, 4.)

b) The same Victim
70.   Likewise the Victim is the same, namely our Divine Redeemer in His human nature with His true Body and Blood.  The manner, however, in which Christ is offered is different.  On the Cross He completely offered Himself and all His sufferings to God, and the immolation of the Victim was brought about by the Bloody Death, which he underwent of His free Will.  But on the Altar, by reason of the Glorified state of His human nature, "death shall have no more dominion over Him," (Rom., 6:9.)  and so the shedding of His Blood is impossible; still according to the plan of Divine Wisdom, the Sacrifice of our Redeemer is shown forth in an admirable manner by external Signs which are Symbols of His Death.  For by the "Transubstantiation" of bread into the Body of Christ and of wine into His Blood, His Body and Blood are both really present: now the Eucharistic Species under which He is Present, Symbolize the actual separation of His Body and Blood.  Thus the commemorative representation of His Death, which actually took place on Calvary, is repeated in every Sacrifice of the Altar, seeing that Jesus Christ is Symbolically shown by separate Symbols to be in a state of Victimhood.

c) The ends of the Sacrifice are the same
71.   Moreover, the appointed ends are the same.  The first of these is to give Glory to the Heavenly Father.  From His Birth to His Death Jesus Christ burned with zeal for the Divine Glory; and the offering of His Blood upon the Cross rose to Heaven in an ordor of sweetness.  To perpetuate this Praise, the members of the Mystical Body are united with their Divine Head in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, and with Him, together with the Angels and Archangels, they sing immortal Praise to God (Cf. Missale Rom., Praefatio.)  and give all Honor and Glory to the Father Almighty. (Cf. Ibidem, Canon.)
72.   The second end is duly to give Thanks to God.  Only the Divine Redeemer, as the Eternal Father's most Beloved Son Whose immense Love He knew, could offer Him a worthy return of Gratitude.  This was His intention and desire at the Last Supper when He "gave thanks." (Marc., 14:23.)  He did not cease to do so when hanging upon the Cross, nor does He fail to do so in the august Sacrifice of the Altar, which is an act of Thanksgiving or a "Eucharistic" act; since this "is truly meet and just, right and availing unto Salvation." (Missale Rom., Praefatio.)
73.   The third end proposed is that of Expiation, Propitiation and Reconciliation.  Certainly no one was better fitted to make satisfaction to Almighty God for all the sins of men than was Christ.  Therefore He desired to be immolated upon the Cross "as a Propitation for our sins, not for ours only but also for those of the whole world." (1 Ioan., 2:2.)  And likewise He daily offers Himself upon our Altars for our Redemption, that we may be rescued from eternal damnation and admitted into the Company of the Elect.  This He does, not for us only who are in this mortal life, but also "for all who rest in Christ, who have gone before us with the Sign of Faith and repose in the sleep of Peace;" (Missale Rom., Canon.)  for whether we live, or whether we die "still we are not separated from the One and only Christ." (S. Augustin., De Trinit., lib. XIII, c. 19.)
74.   The fourth end, finally, is that of Impetration.  Man, being the Prodigal Son, has made bad  use of and dissipated the goods which he received from his Heavenly Father.  Accordingly, he has been reduced to the utmost poverty and to extreme degradation.  However, Christ on the Cross "offering Prayers and Supplications with a loud cry and tears, has been heard for His reverence." (Hebr., 5:7.)  Likewise upon the Altar He is our Mediator with God in the same efficacious manner, so that we may be filled with every Blessing and Grace.

The Infinite Value of the Divine Sacrifice

75.   It is easy, therefore, to understand why the Holy Council of Trent lays down that by means of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the saving Virtue of the Cross is imparted to us for the remission of the sins we daily commit. (Cf. Sess. XXII, c. 1.)
76.   Now the Apostle of the Gentiles proclaims the copious plentitude and the perfection of the Sacrifice of the Cross, when he says that Christ by one oblation has perfected for ever them that are Sanctified. (Cf. Hebr., 10:14.)  For the merits of this Sacrifice, since they are altogether boundless and immeasurable, know no limits; for they are meant for all men of every time and place.  This follows from the fact that in this Sacrifice the God-Man is the Priest and Victim; that His Immolation was entirely perfect, as was His obedience to the Will of His Eternal Father; and also that He suffered Death as the Head of the human race: "See how we were bought: Christ hangs upon the Cross, see at what a price He makes His purchase . . . He sheds His Blood, He buys with His Blood, He buys the the Blood of the Spotless Lamb, He buys with the Blood of God's only Son.  He who buys is Christ; the price is His Blood; the Possession bought is the World." (St. Augustin., Enarr. in Ps. CXLVII, n. 16.)
77.   This purchase, however, does not immediately have its full effect; since Christ after Redeeming the world at the lavish cost of His own Blood, still must come into complete possession of the souls of men.  Wherefore, that the Redemption and Salvation of each person and of future generations unto the end of time may be effectively accomplished, and be acceptable to God, it is necessary that men should individually come into vital contact with the Sacrifice of the Cross, so that the Merits, which flow from it, should be imparted to them.  In a certain sense it can be said that on Calvary Christ built a font of Purification and Salvation which He filled with the Blood He shed; but if men do not bathe in it and there wash away the stains of their iniquities, they can never be purified and saved.

But the Cooperation of the Faithful is Necessary

78.   The cooperation of the faithful is required so that sinners may be individually purified in the Blood of the Lamb.  For though speaking generally, Christ reconciled by His painful Death the whole human race with the Father, He wished that all should approach and be drawn to His Cross, especially by means of the Sacraments and the Eucharistic Sacrifice, to obtain the salutary Fruits produced by Him upon it.  Through this active and individual participation, the members of the Mystical Body not only become daily more like to their Divine Head, but the life flowing from the Head is imparted to the members, so that we can each repeat the words of St. Paul: "With Christ I am nailed to the Cross: I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me." (Gal., 2:19, 20.)  We have already explained sufficiently and of set purpose on another occasion, that Jesus Christ "when dying on the Cross, bestowed upon His Church, as a completely gratuitous Gift, the immense Treasure of the Redemption.  But when it is a question of distributing this Treasure, He not only commits the work of Sanctification to His Immaculate Spouse, but also wishes that, to a certain extent, Sanctity should derive from her activity." (Litt. Encycl. Mystici Corporis, d. d. XXIX Iun. MCMXLIII.)
79.   The august Sacrifice of the Altar is, as it were, the Supreme Instrument whereby the Merits won by the Divine Redeemer upon the Cross are distributed to the faithful:  "as often as this Commemorative Sacrifice is offered, there is wrought the work of our Redemption." (Missale Rom., Secreta Dom. IX post Pentec.)  This, however, so far from lessening the dignity of the actual Sacrifice on Calvary, rather proclaims and renders more manifest its greatness and its necessity, as the Council of Trent declares. (Cf. Sess. XXII., c. 2 et can. 4.)  Its daily Immolation reminds us that there is no Salvation except in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, (Cf. Gal., 6:14.)  and that God Himself wishes that there should be a continuation of this Sacrifice "From the rising of the Sun till the going down thereof," (Mal., 1:11.)  so that there may be no cessation of the Hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving which man owes to God, seeing that he requires His help continually and has need of the Blood of the Redeemer to remit sin which challenges God's Justice.

II.  PARTICIPATION OF THE FAITHFUL
IN THE EUCHARISTIC SACRIFICE

Participation without Priestly Power

80.   It is therefore desirable, Venerable Brethren, that all the faithful should be aware that to participate in the Eucharistic Sacrifice is their Chief Duty and Supreme Dignity, and that not in an inert and negligent fashion, giving way to distractions and daydreaming, but with such earnestness and concentration that they may be united as closely as possible with the High Priest, according to the Apostle: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philipp., 2:5.)  And together with Him and through Him let them make their Oblation, and in union with Him let them offer up themselves.
81.   It is quite true that Christ is a Priest; but He is a Priest not for Himself but for us, when in the name of the whole human race He offers our Prayers and Religious homage to the Eternal Father; He is also a Victim and for us, since He substitutes Himself for sinful man.  Now the exhortation of the Apostle: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," requires that all Christians should possess, as far as is humanly possible, the same dispositions as those which the Divine Redeemer had when He offered Himself in Sacrifice: that is to say, they should in a humble attitude of mind, pay Adoration, Honor, Praise and Thanksgiving to the Supreme Majesty of God.  Moreover, it means that they must assume to some extent the character of a victim, that they deny themselves as the Gospel commands, that freely and of their own accord they do Penance, and that each detests and satisfies for his sins.  It means, in a word, that we must all undergo with Christ a Mystical Death on the Cross so that we can apply to ourselves the words of St. Paul: "With Christ I am nailed to the Cross." (Gal., 2:19.)
82.   The fact, however, that the faithful participate in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, does not mean that they also are endowed with Priestly Power.  It is very necessary that you make this quite clear to your flocks.
83.   For there are today, Venerable Brethren, those who, approximating to errors long since condemned, (Cf. Conc. Trid., Sess. XXIIi, c. 4.)  teach that in the New Testament by the word "Pristhood" is meant only that Priesthood which applies to all who have been Baptized; and hold that the command by which Christ gave Power to His Apostles at the Last Supper to do what He Himself had done, applies directly to the entire Christian Church, and that thence, and thence only, arises the Hierarchical Priesthood.  Hence they assert that the people are possessed of a true Priestly Power, wwhile the Priest only acts in virtue of an office committed to him by the community.  Wherefore they look on the Eucharistic Sacrifice as a "concelebration," in the literal meaning of that term, and consider it more fitting that Priests should "concelebrate" with the people present than that they should offer the Sacrifice privately when the people are absent.
84.   It is superfluous to explain how captious errors of this sort completely contradict the truths which we have just stated above, when treating of the place of the Priest in the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ.  But we deem it necessary to recall that the Priest acts for the people only because he represents Jesus Christ, Who is Head of all His members and offers Himself in their stead.  Hence he goes to the Altar as the Minister of Christ, inferior to Christ but superior to the people. (Cf. Robertus Bellarm., De Missa, II, cap. 4.)  The people, on the other hand, since they in no sense represent the Divine Redeemer and are not a mediator between themselves and God, can in no way possess the Sacerdotal Power.

I--PARTICIPATION INASMUCH AS THEY OFFER IT
WITH THE PRIEST

85.   All this has the certitude of Faith.  However, it must also be said that the faithful do offer the Divine Victim. though in a different sense.

a)  It is declared by the Church
86.   This has already been stated in the clearest terms by some of Our Predecessors and some Doctors of the Church.  "Not only," says Innocent III of immortal memory, "do the Priests offer the Sacrifice, but also all the faithful: for what the Priest does personally by virtue of his Ministry, the faithful do collectively by virtue of their intention." (De Sacro Altaris Mysterio, III, 6.)  We are happy to recall one of St. Robert Bellarmine's many statements on this subject.  "the Sacrifice," he says, "is principally offered in the person of Christ.  Thus the Oblation that follows the Consecration, is a sort of attestation that the whole Church consents in the Oblation made by Christ, and offers it along with Him." (De Misssa, I, cap. 27.)

b)  It is Signified by the Rites Themselves
87.   Moreover the Rites and Prayers of the Eucharistic Sacrifice Signify and show no less clearly that the Oblation of the Victim is made by the Priests in company with the people.  For not only does the Sacred Minister, after the Oblation of the bread and wine when he turns to the people, say the significant Prayer: "Pray Brethren, that my Sacrifice and  yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty;" (Missale Rom., Ordo Missae.) but, also the Prayers by which the Divine Victim is offered to God are generally expressed in the plural number; and in these it is indicated more than once that the people also participate in this august Sacrifice inasmuch as they offer the same.  The following words, for example, are used: "For whom we offer, or who offer up to Thee'... We therefore beseech Thee, O Lord, to be appeased and to receive this offering of our bounden duty, as also of thy whole household . . . We Thy servants, as also Thy whole people . . . do offer unto Thy most excellent Majesty, of Thine own Gifts bestowed upon us, a Pure Victim, a Holy Victim, a Spotless Victim." (Ibidem, Canon Missae.)
88.   Nor is it to be wondered at, that the faithful should be raised to this Dignity.  By the Waters of Baptism, as by common right, Christians are made members of the Mystical Body of Christ the Priest, and by the "Character" which is imprinted on their souls, they are appointed to their condition, in the Priesthood of Christ.

c)  The Offering of Bread and Wine Made by the People
89.   In evrey age of the Church's History, the mind of man, enlightened by Faith, has aimed at the greatest possible knowledge of things Divine.  It is fitting, then, that the Christian people should also desire to know in what sense they are said in the Canon of the Mass to offer up the Sacrifice.  To satisfy such a pious desire, then, We shall here explain the matter briefly and concisely.
90.   First of all the more extrinsic explanations are these:--it frequently happens that the faithful assisting at Mass join their Prayers alternately with those of the Priest, and sometimes--a more frequent occurrence in ancient times--they offer to the Ministers at the Altar bread and wine to be changed into the Body and  Blood of Christ, and, finally, by their alms they get the Priest to offer the Divine Victim for their intentions.
91.   But there is also a more profound reason why all Christians, especially those who are present at Mass, are said to offer the Sacrifice.

d)  Sacrifice Offered by the Faithful
92.   In this most important subject it is necessary, in order to avoid giving rise to a dangerous error, that we define the exact meaning of the word "offer."  The Unbloody Immolation at the words of Consecration, when Christ is made present upon the Altar in the state of a Victim, is performed by the Priest and by him alone, as the Representative of the faithful.  It is because the Priest places the Divine Victim upon the Altar that he offers it to God the Father as an Oblation, for the Glory of the Blessed Trinity and for the good of the whole Church.  Now the faithful participate in the Oblation, understood in this limited sense, after their own fashion and in a twofold manner, namely because they not only offer the Sacrifice by the hands of the Priest, but also, to a certain extent, in union with him.  It is by reason of this participation, that the offering made by the people is also included in Liturgical Worship.
93.   Now it is clear that the faithful offer the Sacrifice by the hands of the Priest from the fact that the Minister at the Altar in offering a Sacrifice in the name of all His members represents Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body.  Hence the whole Church can rightly be said to offer up the Victim through Christ.  But the conclusion that the people offer the Sacrifice with the Priest himself is not based on the fact that, being members of the Church no less than the Priest himself, they perform a visible Liturgical Rite; for this is the privilege only of the Minister who has been Divinely appointed to this Office: rather, it is based on the fact that the people unite their hearts in Praise, Impetration, Expiation and Thanksgiving with the Prayers or intention of the Priest, even of the High Priest Himself, so that in the one and same Offering of the Victim and according to a visible Sacerdotal Rite, they may be presented to God the Father.  It is obviosly necessary that the external Sacrificial Rite should, of its very nature, Signify the Internal Worship of the heart.  Now the Sacrifice of the New Law Signifies that Supreme Worship by which the Principal Offerer Himself, Who is Christ, and in Union with Him and through Him all the members of the Mystical Body, pay God the Honor and Reverence that are due to Him.
94.   We are very pleased to learn that this teaching, thanks to a more intense study of the Liturgy on the part of many, especially in recent years, has been given full recognition.  We must, however, deeply deplore certain exaggerations and over-statements which are not in agreement with the true teaching of the Church.
95.   Some in fact disapprove altogether of those Masses which are Offered privately and without a Congregation, on the ground that they are a departure fromthe ancient way of Offering the Sacrifice; moreover, there are some who assert that Priests cannot Offer Mass at different Altars at the same time, because by doing so, they separate the community of the faithful and imperil its Unity; while some go so far as to hold that the people must comfirm and ratify the Sacrifice if it is to have its proper force and value.
96.   They are mistaken in appealing in this matter to the social Character of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, for as often as a Priest repeats what the Divine Redeemer did at the Last Supper, the necessarily and of its very nature, has always and everywhere the Character of a public and social act, inasmuch as he who Offers it, acts in the Name of Christ and of the faithful, whose Head is the Divine Redeemer, and he Offers it to God for the Holy Catholic Church, and for the living and the dead. (Missale Rom., Canon Missae.)   This is undoubtedly so, whether the faithful are present--as We desire and commend them to do in great numbers and with Devotion--or are not present, since it is in no wise required that the people ratify what the Sacred Minister has done.
97.   Still, though it is clear from what We have said that the Mass is Offered in the Name of Christ and of the Church and that it is not robbed of its social effects though it be Celebrated by a Priest without a Server, nonetheless, on account of the dignity of such an august Mystery, it is our earnest desire--as Mother Church has always commanded--that no Priest should say Mass unless a Server is at hand to answer the Prayers, as Canon 813 prescribes.

II--PARTICIPATION INASMUCH AS
THEY OFFER THEMSELVES AS VICTIMS

98.   In order that the Oblation by which the faithful offer the Divine Victim in this Sacrifice to the Heavenly Father may have its full effect, it is necessary that the people add something else, namely, the offering of themselves as a victim.
99.   This offering in fact is not confined merely to the Liturgical Sacrifice.  For the Prince of the Apostles wishes us, as living stones built upon Christ the Corner Stone, to be able as "a Holy Priesthood, to Offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Petr., 2:5.)  St. Paul the Apostle addresses the following words of exhortation to Christians, without distinction of time: "I beseech you therefore . . . that you present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service." (Rom., 12:1.)  But at that time especially when the faithful take part in the Liturgical Service with such Piety and Recollection that it can truly be said of them: "whose Faith and Devotion is known to Thee," (Missale Rom., Canon Missae.)  it is then, with the High Priest and through Him they offer themselves as a spiritual sacrifice, that each one's Faith ought to become more ready to work through Charity, his Piety more real and fervent, and each should Consecrate himself to the futhering of the Divine glory, desiring to become as like as possible to Christ in His most grievous Sufferings.

Purifying Their Own Souls

100.  This we are also taught by those exhortations which the Bishop, in the Church's name, addresses to Priests on the day of their Ordination: "Understand what you do, imitate what you handle, and since you Celebrate the Mystery of the Lord's Death, take good care to mortify your members with their vices and concupiscences." (Pontif. Rom., De Ordinatione presbyteri.)  In almost the same manner the Sacred Books of the Liturgy advise Christians who come to Mass to participate in the Sacrifice: "At this . . . Altar let innocence be in Honor, let pride be sacrificed, anger slain, impurity and every evil desire laid low, let the sacrifice of chastity be offered in place of doves and instead of the young pigeons the sacrifice of innocence." (Ibidem, De altaris consecrat., Praefatio.)  While we stand before the Altar, then, it is our duty so to transform our hearts that every trace of sin may be completely blotted out, which whatever promotes supernatural life through Christ, may be zealously fostered and strengthened even to the extent that, in union with the Immaculate Victim, we become a victim acceptable to the Eternal Father.
101.  The prescriptions in fact of the Sacred Liturgy aim, by every means at their disposal, at helping the Church to bring about this Holy purpose in the most suitable manner possible.  This is the object not only of Readings, Homilies and other Sermons given by Priests, as also the whole Cycle of Mysteries which are proposed for our commemoration in the course of the year, but it is also the purpose of Vestments, of Sacred Rites and their External Splendor.  All these things aim at "enhancing the Majesty of this great Sacrifice, and raising the minds of the faithful by means of these visible Signs of Religion and Piety, to the contemplation of the sublime Truths contained in this Sacrifice." (Cf. Conc. Trid., Sess. XXII, c. 5.)

Reproducing the Image of Jesus Christ

102.  All the elements of the Liturgy, then, would have us reproduce in our hearts through the Mystery of the Cross the likeness of the Divine Redeemer according to the words of the Apostle of the Gentiles: "With Christ I am nailed to the Cross.  I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me." (Gal., 2:19-20.)  Thus we become a victim, as it were, along with Christ to increase the glory of the Eternal Father.
103.  Let this then be the intention and aspiration of the faithful, when they offer up the Divine Victim in the Mass.  For if, as St. Augustine writes, our Mystery is enacted on the Lord's Table, that is Christ our Lord Himself, (Cf. Serm., CCLXXII.)  Who is the Head and Symbol of that union through which we are the Body of Christ (Cf. 1 Cor., 12:27.) and members of His Body; (Cf. Eph., 5:30.)  if St. Robert Bellarmine teaches, according to the mind of the Doctor of Hippo, that in the Sacrifice of the Altar there is Signified the general Sacrifice by which the whole Mystical Body of Christ, that is all the city of the Redeemed, is Offered up to God through Christ, the High Priest: (Cf. S. Robertus Bellarm., De Missa, II, can. 8.)  nothing can be conceived more just or fitting than that all of us in union with our Head, Who suffered for our sake, should also sacrifice ourselves to the Eternal Father.  For in the Sacrament of the Altar, as the same St. Augustine has it, the Church is made to see that in what she offers she herself is offered. (Cf. De Civ. Dei, lib. X. cap. 6.)
104.  Let the faithful, therefore, consider to what a High Dignity they are raised by the Sacrament of Baptism.  They should not think it enough to participate in the Eucharistic Sacrifice with that general intention which befits members of Christ and children of the Church, but let them further, in keeping with the Spirit of the Sacred Liturgy, be most closely united with the High Priest and His earthly Minister, at the time the Consecration of the Divine Victim is effected, and at that time especially when those Solemn words are pronounced: "By Him and with Him and in Him, is to Thee, God the Father Almighty, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all Honor and Glory for ever and ever;" (Missale Rom., Canon Missae.)  to these words in fact the people answer: "Amen."  Nor should Christians forget to offer themselves, their cares, their sorrows, their distress and their necessities in union with their Divine Savior upon the Cross.

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