Even many Catholics have been deprived of a clear view of their ancient heritage either through the indolence of the clergy or the deliberate falsification of history by the Talmudic rabbis who are the present-day representatives of that portion of the Old Testament that had gone into heresy during the Babylonian Captivity.
Most Catholics are ignorant of the fact that the Sacrifice of the Mass which is a mystical yet real representation of the Sacrifice of Calvary (not merely a symbolic repetition of the "Last Supper') was already prefigured in that portion of Catholic revelation known as the `Old Testament.' The so-called "Jew" of today would like to claim his faith and his fatherhood from Juda, the great-grandson of Abraham or from the time of the saintly Moses.
But the present sect that calls itself by the name of the great-grandson of Abraham, Juda, cannot substantiate its claim on anything even approaching objective evidence. Who existed before the great-grandson of Abraham, Juda? Juda was the fourth son of Jacob who in turn was the grandson of Abraham.
The Hebrews could not have been `Jews' because they, too, came well before the tribe of Juda ever existed. The Christian Sacraments were already prefigured before Moses. Moses is writing of history, not of future events.
He wrote of the time when Abraham collected three hundred and eighteen well-equipped men and pursued his enemies and brought his grandchild back from captivity. Then, returning a victor, he was met by the priest, Melchisedech, who offered bread and wine. (Gen. 14,18). Melchisedech was both king and priest. He was the king of Salem. He offered bread and wine to God. St. Paul says of him: "..he is King of Justice, and then also he is King of Salem that is, King of Peace." (Heb.7,2).
Abraham did not have the bread and wine. Melchisedech had it. Melchisedech, then, is the author of this sacrament. Who was this Melchisedech who offered a sacrifice of bread and wine? St. Paul says: "He was without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest forever" (Ibid. 7,3).
He is without father and without mother. Whom does he resemble in this? Clearly, the Son of God.
For the Son of God, in His heavenly generation, was born without a mother. He was born of the Father alone.
And again when He was born of the Virgin, He was born without a father. For he was not begotten of the seed of man, but born of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 1, 20) and of the Virgin Mary, and brought forth from Her virginal womb, in all things as the Son of God.
Melchisedech was also a priest, as Christ is a priest. It was said of Christ in prophecy: "Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech" (Ps,.119,4). Therefore, Who is the author of the Sacraments if not Jesus Christ? These Sacraments have come down to us from heaven. This holy bread, therefore, which is become the Body of Jesus through the power of priestly consecration is precisely what we Catholics refer to as `Corpus Christi' - the Body of Christ.
The bread becomes the Body of Jesus Christ through the power of Jesus Himself. This is achieved, as the great Council of Trent calls it, through `transubstantiation.' A real change takes place and not merely a `symbolic' signification as most Modernists hold today with their fellow-Protestants. This is the reason we refer to the mysterious and sacred effect that takes place after a valid Catholic priest speaks the words of Jesus as the `Real Presence.' We thereby distinguish this mystical, yet real presence from any diminution of the divine mystery worked here from all other humanly interpreted and rationalized explanations. We profess our supernatural faith in this true and real presence of Jesus Christ:, Body, Soul and Divinity, by openly professing our faith and honoring this Reality among us by appropriate words and actions of genuine inspired piety.
This Most Holy Sacrament and Sacrifice renew the Passion and Death of Our Lord; the Holy Eucharist is the pledge of our Resurrection and Ascension on the condition that we, too, are united in the supreme sacrifice of obedience to the heavenly Father.
And, because it is Jesus Christ mystically present in our midst, we comport ourselves with that pious and humble dignity as befits the awesome Presence of the Son of God.
As often as we receive this Holy Sacrament, we announce the death of Our Lord; we announce the forgiveness of sins. It is time that those Catholics who still retain some faith in the Real Presence make their faith visible before all men, that by so doing, they may draw the ignorant and the indolent to share in the Bread of Eternal Life.
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