This Week's Bulletin Sermon

Series on the Mass: Part 28: TheOffertory, Suscipe Sancta Trinitas
August 9, 2020

The last prayer of the offertory, the Suscipe Sancta Trinitas, is a summary of the Mass, for the Mass is a sacrifice that the whole Trinity will accept. The prayers of the Mass are generally addressed to the Father and conclude with the precision that the prayers are through the Son and with the Holy Spirit. Therefore the whole Trinity is present in the thought of the Church when it prays; nevertheless, it is good that certain prayers be addressed to the Trinity as a whole. Thus the unity and equality of the three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity is taught.

The prayer evokes the passion, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus, who will soon be present on the altar. Christ suffered, died on the cross and rose from the dead to ascend into Heaven. This redemptive act of our Lord is made present on the altar at each Mass in a sacramental way. His death is signified by the separation of the Blood from the Body with the dual consecration and His resurrection is signified by the commingling of the particle of the consecrated host with the Precious Blood in the chalice just prior to the priest receiving communion. 

The prayer commemorates the communion of the saints when it mentions that the sacrifice is offered in the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul and all the saints. The Mass is always offered to God alone, but we can thank Him for the wonders He accomplished in the Virgin Mary and the saints, who fully realized in their lives the plan God had for them and thus show forth the splendor of His glory.

The words et istorum (“and these”) inserted before the phrase “and all the saints” refers to the relics of the saints in the sepulcher of the altar. In the Traditional Liturgy, it is required that a relic of a martyr be placed in the altar stone when it is consecrated. This goes back to the ancient practice of celebrating Mass on the tombs of the martyrs in the catacombs during the persecution of the Church.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Charles Van Vliet, FSSP
Pastor, Regina Caeli Parish