Understanding The Council of Trent: The Sacrifice of The Mass

Apologetics
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The Council of Trent states the following:

“If any one saith, that, by the Sacrifice of the Mass, a blasphemy is cast upon the most holy sacrifice of Christ consummated on the Cross; or, that it is thereby derogated from; let him be anathema” (The Canons on the Sacrifice of the Mass, canon 4).

What are they saying here? I do not speak this language.

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anathema /ə-năth′ə-mə/

  1. A formal ecclesiastical ban, curse, or excommunication.
  2. A vehement denunciation; a curse.
  3. One that is cursed or damned

Well in order to even receive the eucharist, you should understand what it is. It is the final eating of Christs sacrifice on the cross. Apparently the reformers hated this, example this reference: https://www.catholicapologetics.info/modernproblems/newmass/matters.htm

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This statement anathematizes those who profess errors about the Mass. As I understand it, there used to be an actual process of anathema. Regardless of whether the anathema is put into effect, the statement of anathema by the council still serves a teaching function (i.e. a negative judgment against certain beliefs/actions).

So the views being described here as deserving anathema are views being condemned by the council.

The condemned propositions are:

  1. That the Sacrifice of the Mass is blasphemous.
  2. That to offer the Eucharist as a Sacrifice is to take away from the Sacrifice of the Cross.

These are views of Protestant reformers that the Council of Trent condemned.

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