CLARIFICATION ON THE ONE AND ETERNAL SACRIFICE OF CHRIST

fan of scott hahn said...

...one more thing father, i'm just trying to figure out kasi kung pano ko maipapaliwanag ng husto kung pano naging sacrifice in nature ang misa kahit na hindi ito resacrificing ng katawan ng Panginoon, please tell me whatever errors are existing in this kind of explanation, pls! pls! pls!:

1. the mass is a making-present-again of what happened in calvary so it is not a new sacrifice

2. calvary has been offered already for all sins of all mankind BUT it's effects or fruits are not yet applied for sins not yet committed in the present time, so kaya natin ito ino-offer uli ay para ma-i-apply ang epekto nito sa kung anumang kasalanan ang nagawa na, kaya kung hindi mag-aattend ng mass ay hindi mai-a-apply ang epekto nito sa kung anumang kasalanan

3. the only new sacrifice in the mass is our individual sacrifices like our penances, prayers and obediences. Itong mga personal na sakripisyo nating ito ang inaalay ng ating Panginoon sa heavenly tabernacle sa Ama (at sinasama nya ito sa Kanyang katawan para ito ay maging katanggap tanggap sa Ama), para sa kasalanan natin at ng iba...

4. ang sacrifice ng calvary ay nagtatanggal lang ng "guilt" ng ating kasalanan at hindi nito saklaw ang temporal punishments, kaya kelangan din natin gumawa ng sarili nating sakripisyo at self denials para sa temporal punishments natin at ng iba

salamat sa panahon father, napaka interesting po kasi kung ano ang nangyayari sa misa kaya gusto ko po ito maipaliwanag ng husto, please tell me if these explanations are heretical in any way, i'm more than willing to know the correct and exact explanation, sa katesismo po kasi e parang napakaikli ng paliwanag kaya naiisip ko na baka namimisinterpret ko din...

January 7, 2010 3:06 PM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

RESPONSE TO FAN OF SCOTT HAHN ON THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST

[...one more thing father, i'm just trying to figure out kasi kung pano ko maipapaliwanag ng husto kung pano naging sacrifice in nature ang misa kahit na hindi ito resacrificing ng katawan ng Panginoon, please tell me whatever errors are existing in this kind of explanation, pls! pls! pls!:]

Ok.

[1. the mass is a making-present-again of what happened in calvary so it is not a new sacrifice]

This is correct. The Mass is making present the One Sacrifice in Calvary.

But, the ONE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST IS TWO TYPE:

[a] The Bloody Sacrifice on the Cross where He offered His physical Body and Blood. and

[b] The Unbloody Sacrifice in the Cenacle called THE LAST SUPPER wherein He offered His Eucharistic Body and Blood in the form of consecrated Bread and Wine.

You have to bear in mind these two types or forms of Christ's One and Only Sacrifice. They are one and the same because it is the Same BODY & BLOOD of Christ offered in Last Supper and in Calvary. They are One Sacrifice because there is One Victim and One Priest present: JESUS CHRIST.

The Sacrifice on Calvary is never repeated again by the Catholic Church. Because we are the Church that recommended to Emperor Constantine to stop using Crucifixion for death penalty. We are not repeating the Crucifixion of Christ because Christ is already in heaven and we cannot bring him down to be crucified again.

What we are repeating is the UNBLOODY FORM OF SACRIFICE OF CHRIST - THE LAST SUPPER. This HE COMMANDED US TO REPEAT: "Do This In Remembrance of Me" [1 Corinthians 11:24].

THUS, IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND OF THE LORD WE REPEAT THE OFFERING OF HIS EUCHARISTIC BODY AND BLOOD. THE UNBLOODY FORM OF HIS ONE AND ETERNAL SACRIFICE.

[2. calvary has been offered already for all sins of all mankind BUT it's effects or fruits are not yet applied for sins not yet committed in the present time, so kaya natin ito ino-offer uli ay para ma-i-apply ang epekto nito sa kung anumang kasalanan ang nagawa na, kaya kung hindi mag-aattend ng mass ay hindi mai-a-apply ang epekto nito sa kung anumang kasalanan]

What we are offering again is not exactly the Bloody Sacrifice on Calvary but the Eucharistic Sacrifice of Christ. But since the Sacrifice of Christ is One and Only, then even though we are celebrating the Eucharistic Sacrifice we are receiving the graces of Christ's Sacrifice on Calvary.

Christ's Sacrifice on Calvary and in Last Supper are universally efficacious. They are offered for all people of all time and of all nations, not only on the people during the time of the actual Crucifixion of Christ but of every body: Past, Present and Future. However, we repeat the Mass because Jesus commanded it and because the present day faithful must accept that Sacrifice into their hearts in order to be beneficiaries of its effects. Just like the sunlight is given to everybody but unless one opens his windows and doors he will not be able to enjoy the effects of its light and heat and warm and glow.

[3. the only new sacrifice in the mass is our individual sacrifices like our penances, prayers and obediences. Itong mga personal na sakripisyo nating ito ang inaalay ng ating Panginoon sa heavenly tabernacle sa Ama (at sinasama nya ito sa Kanyang katawan para ito ay maging katanggap tanggap sa Ama), para sa kasalanan natin at ng iba...]

I think it is improper to say: "The only new sacrifice in the Mass" rather we say: The Mass is the Once and For All Sacrifice of Christ. It is Eternal. But what is new are the offerings of the Church and the faithful in every act of worships and adoration in every age. Such as their supplications, prayers, acts of penance, requests for forgiveness and their works of charities being offered together with the Body and Blood of the Lord.

The Mass that we have is the same with the Mass during the time of St. Peter, St. John and Mama Mary. It is the same Christ with His same Body and Blood. But during those times it is the Body and Blood of Christ plus the prayers and penances of the Apostles and Mary. What we have now in our Mass is the Body and Blood of Christ and our own prayers and penances.

It is correct that these things are becoming acceptable to the Father because they are offered with the Body and Blood of the Son and since Jesus is the Eternal Priest of the New Covenant it is He Himself bringing these petitions, prayers, and adorations to the Father. And of course the Father will never reject the offerings of the Son.

[4. ang sacrifice ng calvary ay nagtatanggal lang ng "guilt" ng ating kasalanan at hindi nito saklaw ang temporal punishments, kaya kelangan din natin gumawa ng sarili nating sakripisyo at self denials para sa temporal punishments natin at ng iba]

Where did you get this?

The Sacrifice of Christ on Calvary and on the Last Supper is Perfect and Efficacious. It removes sins and destroys the power of death. It truly defeated and vanquished Satan. So, it is not only the 'guilt' but the entire sin. It removes the Sin and its Effects.

However, since human persons have free wills we have to accept into our heart, our mind, our soul, our being the Sacrifice of Christ. We need to accept Jesus and His Sacrifice. We need to BELIEVE in Him. We must have Faith in Christ. So that this Sacrifice will come into us. Like the medicine who can truly and perfectly cure a snake poison. Unless we believe it and actually drink the medicine there will be no cure for the one bitten by the Cobra.

Thus, we need to believe in Jesus: "Those who believe and are baptized shall be saved." [Mark 16:16].

However, FAITH IS WORKING THROUGH LOVE [Galatians 5:6]. Thus, Faith must be manifested in our Good Works to be truly genuine because Faith without Works is dead [James 2:20].

It is true that our sin has its guilt and temporal punishment. Christ has the power to forgive and remove both. And He gave the power to the Church to forgive and remove both. [John 20:21-23/Matthew 16:19/Matthew 18:18]. But the Lord wants us to be truly repentant of ours sins before giving us His full forgiveness and total removal of punishment of sin. Thus, the Church does not only forgives sins, she also guide the penitent to have the necessary things to do in order to serve as temporal punishment for sins rather than be punished for it later in the Judgment Seat of God.

January 8, 2010 9:31 PM