should not be done till after those parts which I must not reveal; for that kiss denotes, that the faithful present have assented to all that was performed.” He gives other directions, speaking of“ the sacred mysteries and the victim that is offered." Ep. ad Decentium: Conc. Gen. T. ii. p. 1246.
ST. JEROM, L.C. “I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. For from the rising of the sun, &c. (Malach. 1.) It is a fixed rule, when a prophecy manifestly refers to future events, not to weaken it by uncertain allegories. The present prophecy regards the Jewish priests, who brought improper victims to be offered, to signify to them, that spiritual victims would succeed to carnal, and that not the blood of bulls and goats, but perfumes, that is, the prayers of the Saints, should be offered to God; and that, not in one province, nor in one city: but a clean oblation in every place, such as is offered in the Christian ceremonies : For from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, great is my name among the Gentiles.” In cap. 1. Malach. T. iii. 1813.
Having stated what were the opinions of many learned men on the character and offering of Melchisedec, (Gen xiv.) he says: “The Apostle affirms, that the Priesthood of Aaron, that is, the Jewish priesthood, had a beginning and an end (Heb. vii.); but that the Priesthood of Melchisedech, that is, of Christ and his Church, should be eternal, and had no author; and that the Priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation also be made of the law.” Ep.cxxvi. ad Evangelium, T. ii. p. 572.-I find him, on many occasions, expressing the same sentiment, that the offering of bread and wine by Melchisedech, was a type of the Sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ in the elements of bread and wine. “In the figure of Christ he offered bread and wine, and thus dedicated the Christian mystery in the blood and body of our Saviour.[1] Ep. xliv. T. iv. Pars. 2.
- ↑ This letter of Paula and Eustochium to Marcella, written to induce her to repair to Bethlem, is generally supposed to have been penned by St. Jerom.
