Because all the promises of the New Covenant, especially the sacraments, are sworn with an oath, an oath God swore to Himself. Yes, I understand that it may seem "mechanistic" to you, but not to us. We only see Love. I sympathize with those who deny the sacramental system even exists, but once more, disputes between Christians concerning this are not chiefly over the content of revelation, but its meaning. That is, it is a liturgical dispute. This is why the Catholic brings the discussion back to authority, because all are agreed in general that the fullness of revelation is in Christ. What is authority, but the power to determine--under Christ--what the proper response to what God has revealed is and will be? In a word, liturgy.
You are troubled that we dare say a man is able to call Christ down from Heaven in the Eucharist? Good! Perhaps the boldness with which we say it will cause you to question your own authority to believe and teach otherwise, especially in the very Name by which we also come. You say that we deny His sovereignty; I say that you hide your denial of human agency in the cloak of that sovereignty. If you wish to inquire, then inquire; if you wish to accost and scoff, there are many more like you, and we don't pay them any heed. Did Christ Himself say, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"? Why would it be any less so now?
Whatever his errors, Fr. O'Brien now knows them all, in the sleep of death. Lord, have mercy!
You are troubled that we dare say a man is able to call Christ down from Heaven in the Eucharist? Good! Perhaps the boldness with which we say it will cause you to question your own authority to believe and teach otherwise, especially in the very Name by which we also come. You say that we deny His sovereignty; I say that you hide your denial of human agency in the cloak of that sovereignty. If you wish to inquire, then inquire; if you wish to accost and scoff, there are many more like you, and we don't pay them any heed. Did Christ Himself say, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"? Why would it be any less so now?
Whatever his errors, Fr. O'Brien now knows them all, in the sleep of death. Lord, have mercy!
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