Fidelity to the Word
Our Lord and His Holy Apostles at the Last Supper


A blog dedicated to Christ Jesus our Lord and His True Presence in the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist


The Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye and eat, this is My Body which shall be delivered for you; this do for the commemoration of Me. In like manner also the chalice.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Three Ancient Liturgies

Adapted from The Catholic Voice, June 2003:
[I could not verify these formulae from other sources online.]

Investigating the eight consecration forms currently in use in the Oriental rites reveals that all, without exception, contain the words, “for you and for many” and “unto the remission of sins,” thereby having the necessary signification of the union of the Mystical Body. But let me give three illustrations (from among many that could be cited) of ancient liturgies which are no longer in use, which do not contain the precise words, “for you and for many unto the remission of sins,” but nevertheless have words that are equivalent in meaning and thus “conform to the same definite type.”

The Syrian Liturgy of St. Cyril:

This is my blood, which seals the Testament of my death; for it prepares you and the many faithful for eternal life.” (“Hic est sanguis meus, qui obsignat Testamentum mortis meae; vos autem, et multos fideles praeparat ad vitam aeternam.”)

The Syrian Liturgy of St. James:
This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for the many faithful (pro multis fidelibus effunditur), and is given unto the remission of sins and eternal life.

The Syrian Liturgy of Moses Bar-Cephas:
This is my blood, which is shed and given for you and for those who believe in me, preparing for eternal life all those who receive it.
Again a form that conforms to the same definite type, inasmuch as “those who believe in me” surely is equivalent to “many,” and cannot conceivably mean “all men.”

(Mr. Omlor's article can also be found here)

Labels: ,

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home