elves.

But of all proofs in favor of the Apostolic origin of the Sacrifice of the
Mass, the most striking and the most convincing is found in the Liturgies
of the Church. The Liturgy is the established Ritual of the Church. It is
the collection of the authorized prayers of divine worship. These prayers
are fixed and immovable. Among others we have the Liturgy of Jerusalem,
ascribed to the Apostle St. James; the Liturgy of Alexandria, attributed
to St. Mark the Evangelist, and the Liturgy of Rome, referred to St.
Peter. There are various other Liturgies accredited to the Apostles or to
their immediate successors. Now I wish to call your attention to this
remarkable fact, that all these Liturgies, though compiled by different
persons, at different times, in various places, and in divers languages,
contain, without exception, in clear and precise language, the prayers to
be said at the celebration of Mass; prayers in substance the same as those
found in our prayer books at the Canon of the Mass.

We cannot account for this wonderful uniformity except by supposing that
the doctrine respecting the Mass was received by the Apostles from the
common fountain of Christianity--Jesus Christ Himself.

It was such facts as these that opened the eyes of those eminent English
divines who, during the present century, have abandoned heresy and schism
and rich preferments and who have embraced the Catholic faith, though, by
taking such a step, they had to sacrifice all that was dear to them on
earth.

The following passages from St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews are
sometimes urged as an argument against the sacrifice of the Mass: "Christ,
... neither by the blood of goats, or of calves, but by His own blood,
entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption." "Nor
yet that He should offer Himself often, as the High Priest entereth into
the Holies every year."(402) Again: "Every Priest standeth, indeed, daily
ministering, and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take
away sins, but this Man, offering one sacrifice for sin, forever sitteth
at the right hand of God."(403)

St. Paul says that Jesus was offered once. How, then, can we offer Him
daily? I answer, that Jesus was offered once in a bloody manner, and it is
of this sacrifice that the Apostle speaks. But in the Sacrifice of the
Mass He is offered up in an unbloody manner. Though He is daily offered on
ten thousand altars, the Sacrifice is the same