--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Mass is not only a relative…" description: "\"“The Mass is not only a relative (commemorative) sacrifice, but likewise an absolute sacrifice, and hence the Eucharistic Victim in the Consecration mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/joseph-pohle-3769_bread-and-wine_the-mass-is-not-only-a-relative-commemor_2444844.jpg" --- # The Mass is not only a relative (commemorative) sacrifice… ![“The Mass is not only a relative (commemorative) sacrifice, but likewise an absolute sacrifice, and hence the Eucharistic Victim in the Consecration must be slain, either physically or morally. As Christ cannot be slain physically because of the glorified state of His Body, the slaying must be 11…” quote by Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/joseph-pohle-3769_bread-and-wine_the-mass-is-not-only-a-relative-commemor_2444844.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/joseph-pohle-3769_bread-and-wine_the-mass-is-not-only-a-relative-commemor_2444844.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/joseph-pohle-3769_bread-and-wine_the-mass-is-not-only-a-relative-commemor_2444844.jpg) > ““The Mass is not only a relative (commemorative) sacrifice, but likewise an absolute sacrifice, and hence the Eucharistic Victim in the Consecration must be slain, either physically or morally. As Christ cannot be slain physically because of the glorified state of His Body, the slaying must be 11 Heinrich-Gutbcrlet, Dogmat. Theologie, Vol. IX, p. 862. 366 THE EUCHARIST AS A SACRIFICE moral. In matter of fact it consists in the volun tary reduction of His Body and Blood to the con dition of food (reductio ad statum cibi et potus), in virtue of which the Eucharistic Saviour, hu manly speaking, places Himself after the fashion of lifeless food at the mercy of mankind. This self-abasement or kenosis is comparable with that involved in the Incarnation, and in some respects even goes beyond it. 12 De Lugo's theory was adopted by Platel, Muniessa, Ulloa, Viva, Antoine, Holtzklau, Tamburini, and others of the older school. In modern times it was revived, after a long period of neglect, by Cardinal Franzelin, who in his profound treatise De Eucharistia has the fol lowing thesis: " We hold with Cardinal De Lugo and a great many later theologians, that the intrinsic form (essence) of the sacrificial act is in this: Christ . . . puts His Body and Blood, under the species of bread and wine, in a state of food and drink, by way of despoiling Himself of the functions connatural to His sacred Hu manity.”” [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Eucharist is presented as a sacrificial offering where Christ's body and blood become spiritual nourishment, symbolizing self‑emptying and divine generosity. **In simple terms:** Christ offers Himself as spiritual food. Key Takeaway Recognize the depth of sacrificial love. Themes theacrament theology self‑sacrifice Mood reverent contemplative Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - liturgical worship - personal meditation - theological study Key Concepts Kenosis incarnation spiritual nourishment Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect personal devotion? - What does self‑emptying mean today? A Different Perspective The metaphor may obscure the mystery for non‑theologians. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bread and wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread-and-wine/) [Eucharist Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eucharist-sacrifice-519769/) [Eucharistic Saviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eucharistic-saviour-519771/) [Eucharistic Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eucharistic-victim-519770/) [Food and drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-and-drink/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Matter of fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-of-fact/) [Modern times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-times/) [Sacrifice Eucharistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice-eucharistic-519768/) [Treatise Eucharistia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treatise-eucharistia-519772/) ## Related quotes > [“Gutberlet answers this question suc cinctly as follows: " First and above all we uphold the idea of the mystical slaying of the sacrificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/gutberlet-answers-this-question-suc-cinctly-as-follows-first-and/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) > [“The dogma of Transub-stantiation implies that the entire substance of the bread and the entire substance of the wine are converted, respectively, into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/the-dogma-of-transub-stantiation-implies-that-the-entire-substance-of/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) > [“bread and wine." 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In matter of fact it consists in the volun tary reduction of His Body and Blood to the con dition of food (reductio ad statum cibi et potus), in virtue of which the Eucharistic Saviour, hu manly speaking, places Himself after the fashion of lifeless food at the mercy of mankind. This self-abasement or kenosis is comparable with that involved in the Incarnation, and in some respects even goes beyond it. 12 De Lugo's theory was adopted by Platel, Muniessa, Ulloa, Viva, Antoine, Holtzklau, Tamburini, and others of the older school. 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