Wesley Corpus

(Bulla Pii IV.) REPLY. The Scripture when it extols the perfection and infinite value of Christ's sacrifice, doth infer from it, that there needed not therefore any repetition of it: “He needeth not daily, as those High Priests, to offer up sacrifice, &c.; for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” (Hebrews vii. 27.) But if the same Christ is offered in the mass as was on the RoMAN CATECHISM, AND REPLY. 121 cross, and that unbloody sacrifice is alike propitiatory as the bloody, there is then a repetition of the same sacrifice, and he is daily offered. And what is it to say, the one was bloody and the other is unbloody, when the unbloody is of the same virtue, and is applied to the same end, as the bloody? So that, as, if Christ had again been bloodily offered up, there had been a repetition of that sacrifice; so there is a repetition of it when he is offered up unbloodily. To have then a perfect sacrifice daily repeated, and a sacrifice without suffering, and a propitiation and remission without blood, are alike irreconcilable to the Apostle. (Hebrews ix. 22, 25, &c.) Q. 71. May the Priest communicate alone, though there be none besides to communicate? A. Yes; the Church of Rome doth approve and commend solitary masses, and accounts them a communion; partly because the people do spiritually communicate in it, and partly because it is celebrated by a public Minister, not only for himself, but also for the people. (Conc. Trid, ibid., cap. 6.) REPLY. The Apostle calls the Lord’s supper a communion, and saith, “All are partakers of that one bread.” (1 Cor. x. 16, 17.) And Cassander saith, “It cannot properly be a communion unless many partake of it;” and adds from the Council of Nants, that “it is absurd to say, Lift up your hearts, when there is none communicates with the Priest.” (Consult, art. 24, De Solit. Miss.) And yet the Council of Trent declares, whosoever shall say such masses are unlawful, and to be abrogated, is accursed. (Sess. 22, Can. 8.) Q. 72. What honour is to be given to the consecrated host? A. Latria, or the same sovereign worship which is due only to God; (Concil. Trid, Sess. 13, cap. 5;) adore it; (Missale Rom., cap. Missae;) pray to it. (Brev. Rom, Hym. in F. Corp.