A treatise of the holy sacrifice of the masse, and excellencies therof. Written in Spanish by the R. F. Ant. de Molina, a Carthusian monke, & translated into English by I.R. of the Society of Iesus. VVith order, hovv to be present at the said Holy Mystery, vvith deuotion & profit

That the Masse is an Embassage vnto the most holy Trinity, in the behalfe of humane kind, about the most important af∣faires in the World. CHAP. III.

THE Masse contaynes in it so many, so hygh, so Diuine, so Soueraigne mysteries, that one defini∣tion

is not sufficient to de∣clare the same, nor to make manifest the notion therof. Wherfore to explicate what the Masse is, we shall vse the way vsed in declaring thin∣ges that are immense, and imbrace within thēselues a kind of infinity, which are declared by many & diffe∣rent descriptions; because many put togeather may discouer what one only by it selfe were not able to do. Let this thē be the first des∣criptiō gathered frō the first Etymology of the word Missa, to wit, that the Masse

is an Embassadge sent by mankind vnto the most ho∣ly Trinity, that is, vnto the true and liuing God. By mediation of the Priest, that in the name of all, he treate the affaires of most weight and moment that euer were or can be treated of in the world, as now we shall declare

First the Masse to be an Embassadge sent vnto the most B. Trinity is cleere, because to God only sacrifi∣ce is to be offered, and not to any creature, no not vnto the most holy virgin Mary,

the most Excellent of all creatures. So the Priest whē he beginnes to offer sayth, suscipe Sācta Trinitas hanc obla∣tionem, accept o holy Trini∣ty this Oblation: which in the Canō he repeats againe, To thee they offer their vows and prayers, the true eternal liuing God. That this em∣bassage to be sēt by mākind, or by the whole Catholicke Church, the Preist himselfe signifies, saying in the Ca∣non, This oblation of our seruice and of thy whole fa∣mily. It is tearmed the offe∣ring or sacrifice of our serui∣ce,

that is, of vs Priests and Ministers of the Aultar, who are peculiarly your seruāts dedicated vnto your diuine worship and seruice, and we offer this sacrifice in acknowledgment of the seruice and subiection we owe you. And it is not only our offering, that as conse∣crated Ministers offer it, but of your whole family, that is, of the whole Catholicke Church, and all your faith∣full who by our handes and ministery offer, & in who∣se name we make this o∣blation vnto you.

The same the Priest re∣peates agayne straight vpon consecration saying, wherfore being mindfull, we thy seruants and thy holy people. We Priests that are peculiarly thy ser∣uants and ministers, and thy Christiā people all ioy∣ning togeather do offer this holy sacrifice. This also the sacred Councell of Trent declares, defining all Masses though priuate and not sayd in publicke, are & ought to be estemeed common, be∣cause the Priest, as publicke Minister offers them not for himself only, but generally

for all the faythfull that be∣long vnto the mysticall bo∣dy of Christ. In summe, is it the most certayne and vni∣uersall doctrine of the holy Fathers and Deuines, that the Masse is sayd in name of the whole Catholicke Church, and of the whole Christian people; not only the faythfull that liue yet in the world, but also the de∣ceased that are detayned in purgatory, because they haue their proper part of fruit in the Masse, being in so great necessity therof; all which the company of the faithfull

both liuing and departed send the Priest as Embassa∣dour to deale their affaires with God.

Yea which is a thing to be pondered, the Priest goeth this Embassadge in name not only of the faith∣full that are in the Militant Church, but besides of the Sayntes that now rest in the triumphant, because also to them reacheth part of the fruite of the Masse. For though they haue no need to satisfye for their sins, from which they are already per∣fectly cleansed, nor to de∣maund

fauours for themsel∣ues, being in the blisfull possessiō of whatsoeuer they can desire: yet the Masse a∣uayles them vnto accidētall glory, and helpes them to giue thankes vnto God for the Benefits he hath be∣stowed and still bestowes vpon them; which thing is to them occasion of very speciall contēt, because they still acknowledge themsel∣ues charged towardes God with an infinite debt of gra∣titude, & that they can ne∣uer fully and perfectly dis∣charge themselues therof.

This is that, vvhich the Church signifyes in the ser∣uice of the Masse, saying that she offers the Sacrifice, to the glory of the most holy Virgin Mary, and the Bles∣sed Apostles, that the same may auayle vnto the ho∣nour of them, and all saints. So that by the Masse honour and accidentall glory comes to all the Saints, and a spe∣ciall ioy which they con∣ceaue in regard of the glory that is therin giuen vnto God, and of the thankes so effectually presented vnto him.

The affaires in like man∣ner which the Priest treates in this Embassadge, are of highest importance, as any eyther be, or can be in the world. For the busines trea∣ted is the acknowledgment of subiection & vassallage, which all creatures owe to their Creatour, and of the Maiesty & Dominiō which the same Lord hath ouer all: & in acknowledgmēt heer∣of to pay him the great tri∣bute, and present him with a gift of inestimable pryce: to giue him thākes for be∣nefits that from him they

receaue, to obtayne pardon of their offences committed against them, to request great graces and fauours and reliefe of all necessities, and finally to craue ayde and assistance to attayne vnto glory & blessednes euerla∣sting: which thinges with∣out any contradction or question, are the greatest that are possible.

Hence we may gather & ought much to consider, the great authority of a Priest being at the Aultar, how great a personage he beares, being as it were the

Sollicitour general of al hu∣man kind, and (as S. Cry∣sostome sayth) like a common Father of the whole world;* 1.1 and so it is his duty to haue care of all, as God hath whose vicegerent he is: or as the same Father saith in another place,* 1.2 as a media∣tour betwixt God and humane Nature, bringing from thence benefit vnto vs, & conueying from hence our prayers thither. S. Hierome affirmes, that for this respect the Priest is tear∣med, The Angell of our Lord, because he is the mes∣senger or Embassadour,* 1.3 that carryeth mens negotiations

vnto God, & bringes backe againe answers from God vnto men. S. Laurence Iusti∣nian confirmes the same, a∣uerring,* 1.4 that the Priest in the celebration of the Masse, hath the office of mediatour, and therfore ought to be intercessour for all sinners. Which office of Em∣bassadour S. Paul attributes to himself and other Preists saying;* 1.5 pro Christo legatione fū∣gimur, we are the Legats or Embassadours in the name & place of Christ. For Christ is the principall Embassa∣dour, chosen to be the in∣tercessour and mediatour of

all mankind, to obtayne them pardon of all their of∣fences, & all other benefits they haue need of, which office Priests now exercise in his name.

And the Fathers note, that for this reason that the Priest of the old Testament who was a figure of the Priesthood of the new, in his sacerdotall garment did carry pictured the whole world, as the holy Ghost doth clearly signify in the book of Wisedome.* 1.6Because as S. Hierome, and others note, by the colour, matter

and fashion of the Priestly garment were signifyed the fower Elements, of which this inferiour world doth consist, as also the celestiall Globes, the starres and pla∣nets, euen vnto the Caelum Empireū, which is the Court and Hall where the Bles∣sed assist. By the leafe of Gold, which he wore on his forhead, wherin was ingrauē the ineffable name of God, was represented the Lord himself and Creatour of all, who as Monarche, standes and rules ouer the whole Hierarchy of crea∣tures.

All this doth declare the maiesty of a Priest, a∣dorned in his Sacerdotall Robes, when he celebrates the most holy Mysteries as the messenger or sollicitour Generall of all mankind: which considerations are deduced from the first signi∣fication of the word Masse, which signifyes a message, or a thing sent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chrys. hom. 6. super. 1. Tim. 2.
• * 1.2

  Hom. 5. in c. 6. Esa.
• * 1.3

  Hieron super c. 1. Malach
• * 1.4

  Serm. de xpī corpor.
• * 1.5

  2. Cor. 5.20.
• * 1.6

  Sap 18.24.