Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/401

 By  the  words  “From  the  rising  of  the  sun — for  my  name  is  great among the  Gentiles”  God  announced  that  many  nations  instead  of  only one would  worship  Him. Then He  further  foretold:  a)  that  a sacrifice would  be  offered  to  Him,  not  in  one  place  only  as  with  the  Jews,  but in  all  places; b)  that  this  sacrifice  would  be  a clean  oblation  or  offering, c) and  a meat-offering  or,  in  other  words,  an  unbloody  sacrifice; d)  and that it  would  be  a perfect  sacrifice,  and  take  the  place  of  the  Jewish sacrifices. Now, in  what  way  does  the  holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  correspond with  and  fulfil  this  prophecy? a) The  holy  Sacrifice  of  the Mass  was  instituted  at  the  Last  Supper,  and  is  offered  up  in  every Catholic  church  all  over  the  world,  b)  It  is  a clean  oblation,  nay,  the most clean,  the  most  holy  oblation  that  can  be,  for  in  it  is  offered  up Jesus  Christ,  the  All-holy  Son  of  God. c) It  is  an  unbloody  Sacrifice, and  at  the  same  time  it  is  a meat-offering,  for  in  it  Jesus  Christ  offers Himself  in  an  unbloody  manner  in  the  holy  Mass,  under  the  form  of bread  and  wine,  and  gives  Himself  in  Holy  Communion  to  be  the Food  of  both  priest  and  people,  d)  It  replaces  the  sacrifices  of  the Old Testament,  which  were  only  types  of  this,  the  spotless  Sacrifice  of the  New  Testament,  and  which  are  fulfilled  by  it.

APPLICATION. Thank God  in  an  especial  manner  for  the most holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  and  resolve  that  you  will  assist at it  frequently  and  with  devotion.

HE most  terrible  trial  which  the  Jews  had  to  undergo  was that which  came  upon  them  at  the  time  when  they  were made subject  to  the  proud  and  cruel  Antiochus,  king  of  Syria.