The Mass and the Sacrifice of the Altar

Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre on November 2, 2022. In the 19th century, Cardinal John Henry Newman loved the Anglican choral tradition. But he was especially enamoured by the Holy Mass. It was the point of connection with the past, with souls before us, and souls in purgatory. He felt so attracted to the Mass as this timeless ritual that would be the same reality during all ages. Indeed the Holy Mass is the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and for that reason it is efficacious.  We are present at Calvary.  Rather than merely remembering the life and death of Christ, we are present at it and partake of the eternal fruits which flow to us from the altar when the priest stands in the place of Christ and offers the Eternal Victim on the altar to God. Music: Recordações do passado (Souvenirs from the Past) a Valsa for piano (1885) by Ernesto Nazareth arranged for guitar by Bert Alink  Thumbnail: Jan Van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece, panel from the mystical adoration of the lamb, 15th century. https://www.youtube.com/c/EricNicolai/videos