The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-26
o1IoNd,er
lD0C TRINAE. SSSEas EITURGICAL. \
Sermons on Catholic Worship.

"The Second Prayer of the Canon" is
the subject of the 22nd sermon OF
the series. The sermon here repro
duced was prepared by the Rev. A.
D. Lcitham, pastor of the Holy Ro.
sary church, Bozeman, Mont.
SECOND PRAYER OF THE CANON.
Today we shall consider the second
prayer OF the canon: This obla-
ton, therefore, of our service, and
that of Thy whole family, we beseech
Thee, o Lord, graciously to accept
and to dispose of our days in Thy
peace. and to command us to be de-
livered from eternal damnation and
to be numbered in the flock Of Thine
elect, through Christ, our Lord
Amen"
The petitions presented in the first
prayer of the canon are again mem
toned, but now with heightened con
fidenee. We stand no longer there
alone, for We, have just recited the
names of the great saints of the Chris
tan era that, through their merits
and mterCession, we may continually
enjoy the divine protection. There
fore, we turn with greater confidence
to the Lord with the petition previous
ly implored that He would show Him
self favorable, propitiated, gracious
and with kind indulgence accept these
sacrificial gifts from our hands. Until
now by the word ''oblation," we have
always meant the bread and wine, in
so far as they are destined to be
changed into the body and blood of
Christ. The petition for the accept
ance. of these sacrificial elements,
therefore, includes in itself the petit
ton for their transubstantiation; the
purpose for which they are to be &C.
cepted is the conservation
The Eucharistic obation.
The eucharistic oblation is here
more closely characterized by a two
fold clause as the Offering of our
serVitude,' and the collation. of the
whole family of God Speaking of
the Mass as his oblation, the priest
calls it 1.-The oblation of our servi-
tude," because the priest is the minis
ter of this oblation by divine ordi-
nance, and because he renders special
service and ministration at the altar.
The priest calls the Mass also "the
oblation of the whole family of Cod
that is, OF the believing people, and
.. in particular of those faithful, who,
by actual participation, unite in the
celebration of the Mass. The faith
full are called the family of God in
accordance with the words of st.
Paul: Therefore, We are no longer
strangers and foreigners, but We are
fellow citizens with the saints anu
members of the household of God"
(Eph. H. 1917.
''The oblation of our servitude" fur
Their implies that Mass is the Of
fering that we and all the members of
the Church make in order to acknowl-
edge the absolute dominion of God
over all hat He has created and to
express our profound submission to
1t. AS creatures we stand in a special
relation Of dependence towards God,
our Creator; the Mass now has princi,
pally for it's object the giving to God
of that generation, homage and ack.
nowledgment, that religious worship
which is due to Him alone Sacri-
flee is the chief act of religion. All
men are bound to serve God; but
priests have consecrated themselves
in very special manner to the serv-
ice of the sanctuary. Yet, we are to
serve God not with servile fear, but
with joy and jubilation of heart; for
the service Of God is not only a duty