The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
The Four Great Ends of the Mass
HOLY Mass is offered to God for four great ends, corresponding to the four great duties we owe to Him; these are:
1. To praise, honor, and adore the infinite majesty of God, Who is infinitely deserving of all the glory that can be given Him by His creatures.
2. To satisfy the infinite justice of God, Who is infinitely offended by the sins committed against Him,
3. To thank the infinite liberality of God, Who requires an infinite return for all the favors bestowed upon His creatures.
4. To petition the infinite goodness of God, Whom nothing but a pleading of infinite value can move to grant us all needful blessings.
When Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost offered Himself unspotted to God on Mount Calvary, He paid infinite adoration to the divine majesty, gave infinite satisfaction to the divine justice, made an infinite return to the divine liberality and moved the divine goodness by an appeal of infinite efficacy.
Now in Holy Mass, Jesus places Himself entirely in your hands, that you may offer to God the same great sacrifice of infinite value for the same most excellent ends, in your behalf as well as for others, whether living or dead. For all who devoutly assist at Holy Mass are made one with the priest, and along with him present to heaven the adorable sacrifice. What would you, therefore, do without the Holy Mass?
