The Voice Of One Crying Out In Suburbia

James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries had an interesting commentary in his blog about a recent Roman Catholic (Redemptionis Sacramentum)proclamation regarding the Eucharist. I knew the Eucharistic worship was a bit over the top, but some of the language they used was downright insulting...


>>>[134.] “The worship of the Eucharist outside the Sacrifice of the Mass is a tribute of inestimable value in the life of the Church. Such worship is closely linked to the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice." Therefore both public and private devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist even outside Mass should be vigorously promoted, for by means of it the faithful give adoration to Christ, truly and really present, the “High Priest of the good things to come" and Redeemer of the whole world. “It is the responsibility of sacred Pastors, even by the witness of their life, to support the practice of Eucharistic worship and especially exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament, as well as prayer of adoration before Christ present under the eucharistic species."<<<

As Dr. White points out, this should be viewed as a dramatic departure from Scriptural teachings, but it passes with nary a whimper from most of the evangelical community. Dr. White quotes from the Westminster catechism on the Eucharist...

>>>In this sacrament, Christ is not offered up to His Father; not any real sacrifice made at all, for remission of sins of the quick or dead; but only a commemoration of that one offering up of Himself, by Himself, upon the cross, once for all: and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God, for the same, so that the popish sacrifice of the mass (as they call it) is most abominably injurious to Christ's one, only sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins of His elect. (29:2)<<<

Chirst said on the cross "It is finished" and indeed it was, the sacrifice was made, the price was paid. Catholics do not re-sacrifice Christ during Mass, nor do they transform the bread and wine into actual flesh & blood. Christ said "Do this in remembrance of Me" and we do indeed, not place Me on the alter and shed My blood and break My flesh again for you. Christ's redemptive work is completed on the cross and to deny that by reenacting the work in the Mass is to deny His Word.