St. Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor

Baltimore track

Baltimore Catechism No. 3

Lesson 24 — On the Sacrifice of the Mass

Q. 928.From what may we learn that we are to offer up the Holy Sacrifice with the priest?

A.We may learn that we are to offer up the Holy Sacrifice with the priest from the words used in the Mass itself; for the priest, after offering up the bread and wine for the Sacrifice, turns to the people and says: "Orate Fratres," &c., which means: "Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty," and the server answers in our name: "May the Lord receive the sacrifice from thy hands to the praise and glory of His own name, and to our benefit and that of all His Holy Church."

Q. 929.From what did the custom of making an offering to the priest for saying Mass arise?

A.The custom of making an offering to the priest for saying Mass arose from the old custom of bringing to the priest the bread and wine necessary for the celebration of Mass.

Q. 930.Is it not simony, or the buying of a sacred thing, to offer the priest money for saying Mass for your intention?

A.It is not simony, or the buying of a sacred thing, to offer the priest money for saying Mass for our intention, because the priest does not take the money for the Mass itself, but for the purpose of supplying the things necessary for Mass and for his own support.

Q. 931.Is there any difference between the sacrifice of the Cross and the sacrifice of the Mass?

A.Yes; the manner in which the sacrifice is offered is different. On the Cross Christ really shed His blood and was really slain; in the Mass there is no real shedding of blood nor real death, because Christ can die no more; but the sacrifice of the Mass, through the separate consecration of the bread and the wine, represents His death on the Cross.