The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, generally known as
the Mass, formed the central feature of worship. It was more than a common meal
in commemoration of the Last Supper of Christ with the Apostles. It was a
solemn ceremony, by which the Christian believed himself to receive the body
and blood of Christ, under the form of bread and wine. [3] The right of the
priest to withhold the Eucharist from any person, for good cause, gave the
Church great power, because the failure to partake of this sacrament imperiled
one's chances of future salvation. It was also supposed that the benefits of
the ceremony in purifying from sin might be enjoyed by the dead in Purgatory;
hence masses were often said for the repose of their souls.
[3] This doctrine is known as transubstantiation. In the
Roman Church, as has been noted (page 363), wine is not administered to the
laity.
ORDINATION
The seventh and last sacrament, that of Ordination, or
"Holy Orders," admitted persons to the priesthood. According to the
view of the Church the rite had been instituted by Christ, when He chose the
Apostles and sent them forth to preach the Gospel. From the Apostles, who
ordained their successors, the clergy in all later times received their exalted
authority. [4] Ordination conferred spiritual power and set such an indelible
mark on the character that one who had been ordained could never become a
simple layman again.
