Page:Complete ascetical works of St Alphonsus v6.djvu/36

34 low the precepts and counsels that our Lord points out to us.

Credo ("I believe"). While the priest is reciting the symbol, we should renew our faith in all the mysteries and all the dogmas that the Church teaches. By the symbol was formerly understood a military sign, a mark by which many recognize one another, and are distinguished from one another: this at present distinguishes believers from unbelievers. Benedict XIV. tells us that at Rome the recitation of the symbol during Mass was begun only in the eleventh century.

The Offertory embraces everything from the Dominus vobiscum till the Preface. In offering the bread and wine the priest calls them the immaculate Host, the Chalice of salvation. We should not be astonished at this; for all the prayers and all the ceremonies before and after the consecration have reference to the divine Victim. It is at the moment of consecration that the Victim presents himself to God, that he offers himself to him, and that the sacrifice is offered; but as these different acts cannot be explained at the same time, they are explained one after the other. The priest then offers by anticipation the bread prepared for the sacrifice, and while saying, Suscipe, sancte Pater, hanc immaculatam Hostiam, etc. ("Accept, O holy Father, this immaculate Host, etc."); and he offers the wine as if it had already been consecrated, by saying, Offerimus tibi, Domine, Calicem salutaris, etc. ("We offer unto Thee, O Lord, the Chalice of salvation, etc."); because this wine, being afterwards changed into the blood of Jesus Christ, becomes our sal-