to the significant words addressed to the Jews by this
prophet: "I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will
not receive a gift of your hand. For, from the rising of the sun, even to
the going down, My name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place
there is sacrifice, and there is offered to My name a clean oblation; for
My Name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts."(396) The
prophet here clearly foretells that an acceptable oblation would be
offered to God not by Jews, but by Gentiles; not merely in Jerusalem, but
in every place from the rising to the setting of the sun. These prophetic
words must have been fulfilled. Where shall we find the fulfilment of the
prophecy?

We may divide the inhabitants of the world into five different classes of
people, professing different forms of religion--Pagans, Jews, Mohammedans,
Protestants and Catholics. Among which of these shall we find the clean
oblation of which the prophet speaks? Not among the Pagan nations; for
they worship false gods, and consequently cannot have any sacrifice
pleasing to the Almighty. Not among the Jews; for they have ceased to
sacrifice altogether, and the words of the prophet apply not to the Jews,
but to the Gentiles. Not among the Mohammedans; for they also reject
sacrifices. Not among any of the Protestant sects; for they all distinctly
repudiate sacrifices. Therefore, it is only in the Catholic Church that is
fulfilled this glorious prophecy; for whithersoever you go, you will find
the clean oblation offered on Catholic altars. If you travel from America
to Europe, to Oceanica, to Africa, or Asia, you will see our altars
erected, and our Priests daily fulfilling the words of the prophets by
offering the "clean oblation" of the body and blood of Christ.

This oblation of the New Law is commonly called _Mass_. The word Mass is
derived by some from the Hebrew term _Missach_ (Deut. xvi.), which means a
free offering. Others derive it from the word _Missa_, which the Priest
uses when he announces to the congregation that Divine Service is over. It
is an expression indelibly marked on our English tongue from the origin of
our language, and we find it embodied in such words as _Candlemas_,
_Michaelmas_, _Martin-mas_ and _Christmas_.

The sacrifice of the Mass is the consecration of the bread and wine into
the body and blood of Christ, and the oblation of this body and blood to
God, by the ministry of the Priest, f