Wednesday 13 March 2019

Origen: The Eucharist

"Again, Celsus," Origen writes, " wishes us to be thankful to these demons, imagining that we owe them thanks-offerings.  . . . And we have a symbol of gratitude to God in the Bread which we call the Eucharist." 7

Again, "For you who are joined to the Lord, to Jesus Christ, the true High Priest, who by His blood has recovered for you the grace of God, and has reconciled you to the Father, do not hold on any longer to the blood of sacrificed animals, but recognise the blood of the Word, and hear Him saying : ' This is My blood which is shed for you unto the remission of sins '; however, he that is initiated knows already the body and blood of the Word. We do not long dwell on what is known sufficiently by those who know and cannot be explained to those who do not know." 8

Also, "As for us who return thanks to the Creator of all things, we eat the breads which are offered with prayers and thanksgivings, because we have received these breads which by prayer become a holy body which sanctifies those who receive it with a pure heart." 9

7 Contra Celsum, vii., 57.

8 Hom. In Levit, ix., n. 1C.

9 In Levit, Hom. 13, p. 176. 

From The Mass In The Infant Church By Rev Garrett Pierse