Sunday, May 4, 2008

What of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?

Why does the Novus Ordo Mass of Pope Paul VI so radically alter the propitiatory sacrificial nature of the Mass by inordinately stressing the celebratory (meal) aspect of it? This appears to be totally incompatible with [pre-Vatican II] Catholic dogma and an obvious attempt to make the Mass appear more acceptable to non-Catholics.

In my experience, very few Catholic Priests who say Mass utilizing the Novus Ordo ever refer to the "Holy Sacrifice of the Mass" as if what transpires therein is no longer primarily a re-presentation of the perfect sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the Cross of Calvary. Moreover, why was the Mass changed in such a way as to make the words of institution incompatible with scripture—“Take this all of you and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for many” so that sins may be forgiven." The Novus Ordo language has been altered to say "for all" rather than “for many?” This strongly suggests universal salvation at least implicitly if not explicitly so. It would seem more than innapropriate to alter the Traditional and scripturally pricise language--upon which the language of the Mass was based--on such a momentous doctrinal point, particularly since for almost 2 millennia it was rendered "for many." (Mt. 26: 28; Mk. 14: 24)

While Christ's sacrifice clearly has the ability to atone for the sins of the whole world, Traditional Catholic teaching is that Christ's atoning (salvific) work is only applied to a specific subset of the world's people--those who are Baptized and remain in a state of grace (friendship) with the Lord Jesus Christ. New Testament scripture; specifically the actual words of Jesus Christ indicate that not all are saved--the "gate is narrow" that leads to salvation (Mt. 7: 13-14).

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What/Where is the Roman Catholic Church?

In light of Traditional Catholic dogma/doctrine, how should the Second Vatican Council be viewed ? Is it consistent with Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and prior Magisterial teaching?

What explains the tremendous amount of "bad fruit" which has been forthcoming since the close of the Council in 1965? “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16)

This site explores these questions and more in an attempt to place the Second Vatican Council in proper perspective.