1. WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL CHURCH TEACHING REGARDING THE MASS?

Pope Pius XII "the mass is therefore no mere Mediatore Dei commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. It is truly and properly the offering of a sacrifice wherein by an unbloody immolation, the high priest does what He has already done on the cross --- "

Vatican II " the eucharistic sacrifice was instituted constitution to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the centuries "

John Paul II " the bread and wine presented at the altar Dominicae --- become truly, really and substantially Cenae Christ's own body that is given up and his Feb. 24, 1980 blood that is shed. By virtue of the consecration, the species of bread and wine re-present in a sacramental unbloody manner the bloody propitiatory sacrifice offered by Him on the cross "

2. WHAT SCRIPTURAL BASES ARE CLAIMED FOR THESE?

1 cor 11:23-26 the Lord's Supper

matt 20:26-28

mk 14:22-24

lk 22:19-20

jn 6:48-58 I am the bread of life --- he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life

3. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

ABOUT THE LORD`S SUPPER

1 cor 11:24-25 complete accounts are clear --- do this IN lk 22:19 REMEMBRANCE of Me --- a memorial --- not a repetition of the sacrifice

1 cor 11:25 this cup IS THE NEW COVENANT in my blood

lk 22:20 --- obviously figurative language

ABOUT TRANSUBSTANTIATION

jn 6:48-58 are we to take " eat my flesh and drink my blood " literally?

THIS IS THE 1ST OF 7 OBVIOUSLY FIGURATIVE " I AM's " IN THE BOOK OF JOHN

jn 6:48 I AM the bread of life

jn 8:12 I AM the light of the world --- did he mean He was the sun?

jn 10:7I AM the door --- did he mean a literal wooden door?

jn 10:11 I AM the good shepherd --- did he mean he was an actual shepherd?

jn 11:25 I AM the resurrection and the life

jn 14:6 I AM the way, the truth, and the life

jn 15:5 I AM the vine --- did he mean he was a grapevine?

JOHN USES FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THE BOOK:

jn 2:19 " destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up " --- He meant His body

jn 3:7 " you must be born again " --- did He mean we must be physically reborn?

jn 4:13 " whoever drinks of the water I give --- out

jn 7:38 of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water " --- He meant the Holy Spirit --- not physical water

ABOUT THE FINALITY OF CHRIST`S SACRIFICE ON CALVARY:

jn 19:30 it is FINISHED

rom 6:10 the death He died --- He died to sin --- ONCE FOR ALL

heb 9:12 through His own blood --- He entered the holy place --- ONCE FOR ALL

heb 10:12 having ONE sacrifice for sins --- FOR ALL TIME

heb 10:14 by ONE offering --- He has perfected FOR ALL TIME those who are sanctified

1 pet 3:18 Christ died for sin --- ONCE FOR ALL

SCRIPTURES ARE CLEAR AND CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT

CHRIST`S SACRIFICE WAS ONCE FOR ALL --- A PERFECT --- FINISHED SACRIFICE --- NEVER TO BE REPEATED

4. WHAT DOES CHURCH HISTORY SAY ABOUT THE MASS?

1st century act 4:32-37 --- the bible records communal offerings of possessions to the poor by the earliest New Testament Christians

2nd century Justin Martyr records how congregations gave THANK OFFERINGS for the needy and the poor

3rd century Ciprian records how this evolved:

--- from thank offerings to SIN OFFERINGS

--- from congregational offerings to PRIEST OFFERINGS

8th century Paschus Radbertus proposes rituals later to be incorporated into the mass and teaches that the bread and wine changed into the body of Christ

12th century, the host came into use --- child communion was abolished in 1175 --- due to increased veneration of the species

13th century Pope Innocent II made transubstantiation and the efficacy of the mass for removing sin an article of faith --- at the 4th lateran council in 1215

16th century Council of Trent confirms in 1545

20th century Vatican II confirms