The New York herald., 1845-01-26
TransubstantiatiOn.
Lecture delivered In st. Patrick's Catho-
dral, Thursday Evening, January 23, ls45,
by the Right Reverend Bishop Hughes.

reference to the subject am about to treat. The
first portion is that in which our Saviour ntrodu-
ced the subject OF his intention to establish life
giving sacrament-that of his own body and blood
under the appearances of bread and wine. The
second will be those portions of scripture in which
are fully accomplished the design he had previous
y expressed; and the third will be the reference,
subsequently,, to this institution, by ST. Paul the
Apostle. (Bishop Hughes here read that well
known passage found in 9th chapter of ST. Johns
Gospel, commencing with the 5lst verse; also,
that from st. Matthew, 26th chapter, 26lh, 9th,
28tn verse;; as well as the relative texts from st.
Mark and st. Luxe; and St. Pauls reference TO
the subject as found in 1lth chapter of LIST Cornthi
ans. AS these texts are too long to insert omit
them they are, however, texts with which most
readers are familiar) 1t Is not my intention, be-
loved brethren, to enter upon any discussion Of the
force and purpose and application OF these inspired
words. Yet have pronounced them aloud on en-
tering upon this great and awful question in order
that the memory of them shall remain with you,
while shall have to speak of many things appa-
rently separate from these texts, yet not uncon-
nected with this doctrine. For unhappy at the pre-
sent day, the plain, simple Direct but well grounded
meaning the church always attaches to these words
is questioned and denied by many who profess to
take the divine volume from which have read these
words as their onlyguide Thisquestio divides them
from US, and the point at issue is simply this Did
Christ IN these words, ordained to be memorial
OF his almighty power, realize what the Catholic
Church believes respecting the mystery of the eu
charist or did he utter these words with all their
solemnlty, TO express that which would scarcely be
mystery at all In brief, did he mean to give to
his apostles ut that moment and to the recipients
OF his mystical body at all times, his body and
blood under the appearances Of bread and wine, or
not! The Catholic Church has always taught, on
that teaching of the Catholic Church, since the
unhappy separation that has divided SO many Chris
tans from her communion, every species OF argu-
ment that Ingenuity could suggest-every species
Of evidence that could be brought forward from
the obscurliy OF language, the ambiguity of gram
matcal construction, and the progress Of science.
and the resources OF reason, that could muster
have been used for the purpose Of overthrowine
what we regard as the most exalted Of Gods mys
teries. Now, beloved brethren, the reason do moi
enter upon the discussion of the force of the scrip
tural language In support OF this dogma is, thai
while we Catholics understand our faith, and know
to what point an argument of scripture should be
apped-those in this audience who have been
brought up under another training have an imagi.
nary Catholic Church in their minds, and would
be liable TO be led away by this phantom Of their
ceed to unde rstandlng OF what 1t Is that the Ca
tholc Church teaches on this subject; and | need
not add here that, for every member Of her own
communion, reason and argument are altogether
anneinted her az His minister and in
His own place-guiding and guarding the faithful
in the ways ofeternal te, and the mysteries which
cause others to retire have no difficulties to their
minds. For them it is sufficient that the Church
teaches this, and this and this but, before confid
ing, they have satisfied their minds that God has
made the Church for that teaching, and take, IN
stead Of God HIMSELF The Church he has substituted
his placp Not with SpDarated brethren
They claim the dangerous privilege of examining
every thing. They bring all to the test of scrip
ture, and then bring the scriptures to the test OF
their own minds Let us meet them on this ground,
and if it be possible, even by adopting their own
principles ofreasonng, let examine the question
between the two communions-the Catholic and
Pr0testant-and understand on what side the force
OF scrptura evidence, historical authority ,and even
the tOrce of reason itself, is found to reside Now,
beloved brethren, the view which the Catholic
church enertains OF this doctrine is one In itsel
the most exalted, which 1t is possible tor the mine
OF Christian to conceive. For the teaching OF our
church is thls-that the mere dying on the cross
was not yet enough to satisfy the infinite goodness
OF our God in becoming incarnate and assuming
the work OF our redemption; but that even by the
miracle which none but God could perform or con-
ceive, by the same INFINITE means by which he be-
came man, and gave his life for our redemption,
ne continues to give himself for US, and, in mystl
cal form, under the appearances and accidents o.
bread and wine, he continues TO redeem us. And
In that mystery which the church has from The be-
sinning, day by day for 364 days of every year,
through the power delivered to her ministers, OF
fered up 10 God that sacrifice first offered on the
cross; not new or dlstlnct sacrifice, but what the
apostle expressed II, "to show forth the death oi
Christ till he come," and that Christ, being the VIC
tim of the high priest, presents himself 10 the ia
teaches that when Christ died on the cross, he died
for all mankind in generals out that he renews that
death in a miraculous and mystical manner IN IA
vor Of particular persons or communities, and gives
4 n L ,InA Nlal<x ovxl
principle of eternal life. l know we are far from
him, at the right hand of the Eternal Father where
he is-but know at the same time that his love
sees a great way, and hence, when we raise our
ton, and humility and gratitude, which we never
realize when we think of the Saviour's distance
from us at the right hand OF God. II II be ak
ed, then, by whom is this rite performed-ls il
the priest accomplIshes this mystery Yes, In
one sense; no, in another. The priest, in an out
ward manner, and in the same sense as he is in
strunental in converting sinners, speaks to them
in Gods name; but Christ does all, and Is the au-
thor ofany good that Is accomplished in his church,
by the outward means appointed 1t is, therefore,
ss far simply an evidence Of Gods goodness and
power. We believe in that mystery, he continues.
AS the fathers expressed it-as it were an exten-
sion and continuation OF the redemption OF the
world; and that we, assembled round HE altar are
exalted to his presence, because having something
in that mystic rite worthy to raise TO God IN his
name; and that In no particular place, but ali over
Church It 10 not the priest, according to this, who
accompshes the mystery; but Christ himself-he
being the high priest alter the order oil Melchesi-
dec. This, my brethren,s what makes the Catho
lie Church so sacred ia our estimation; thlsis what
influences us when we sacrifice our wealth TO raise
splendid temples, and if the altar be spangled with
the gems OF eastern wealth. il is not for the sake
of the altar, but because Of him who gives himself
for us, and is still the mediator between God and
man. II were then to divine the subject pro-
pose to treat Of, | should say it will naturally
come under three distinct heads. One will be the
scripture have just read. Another will be the
history of this dogma, and another will be the OBJ
jections taken from what is called philosophy
that have been urged against it, II will be impos
sibIe to dispose OF all these at one time But will
say, in regard to this dogma Of the Church at
the present day, that it is the same taught by
the Church in all ages past that, OF all
the dogmas revealed by the authorityof christianity,
this was the last to be directly attacked or assaied
upon its own merits For whilst we see various
secs and heretics assalling the several tenets OF
Christianity, the divinity OF Christ not accepted,
at least have the best and most triumphant histori-