Who Says the Mass is a Sacrifice?

Since we are having Mass in Capernaum, at the very place Jesus said, “Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood”, I thought I would share my short study about the Mass as a real sacrifice.

Jimmy Swaggart (made a foolish and unhistorical claim):

The Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation is, without question, one of the most absurd doctrines ever imposed on a trusting public… Roman Catholic errors are inevitably human innovations that were inserted into the church during the early centuries. This teaching on the Eucharist follows this pattern.

In the first century, as described in the New Testament, Holy Communion was a meal of fellowship eaten as a memorial to the death of Christ and a symbol of unity among Christians both with each other and with Christ.

In the second century it began to shift toward a ceremony, in which Christ was present in some undefined form. This was not yet the eventual Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation which was a development of the Middle Ages but it was a beginning in this unfortunate direction.

By the third century the idea of sacrifice began to intrude, whereby Christ’s body and blood were mysteriously produced by an ordained priest for the gratification and benefit of both the living and the dead.” (Catholicism and Christianity)

Oh, really?!?!

Didache (written around 60-100 AD):

“Assemble on the Lord’s Day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not to take part with you until they have been reconciled, so as to avoid any profanation of your sacrifice. For this is the offering of which the Lord has said, ‘Everywhere and always bring me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is the wonder of nations” [Malachi 1:11].

For the whole article, click here.

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