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A Poetic View of the Eucharist

A Roman Miracle

A pretty maid, a Protestant was to a Catholic wed;

To love all Bible truths and tales, quite early she's been bred.

It sorely grieved her husband's heart that she would not comply,

And join the Mother church of Rome and heretics deny.

So day by day he flattered her, but still she saw no good

would ever come from bowing down to idols made of wood.

The Mass, the host, the miracles, were made but to deceive;

And transubstantiation, too, she'd never dare believe.

He went to see his clergyman and told him his sad tale.

"My wife is an unbeliever, sir; you can perhaps prevail;

For all your Romish miracles my wife has strong aversion,

To really work a miracle may lead to her conversion."

The priest went with the gentleman, he thought to gain a prize.

He said, "I will convert her, sir, and open both her eyes."

So when they came into the house, the husband loudly cried,

"The priest has come to dine with us!" "He's welcome," she replied.

And when, at last, the meal was o'er, the priest at once began,

To teach his hostess all about the sinful state of man;

The greatness of our Savior's love, which Christians can't deny,

to give Himself a sacrifice, and for our sins to die.

"I will return tomorrow, lass, prepare some bread and wine;

The sacramental miracle will stop your soul's decline."

"I'll bake the bread," the lady said. "You may," he did reply.

"And when you've seen this miracle, convinced you'll be, say I."

The priest did come accordingly, the bread and wine did bless.

The lady asked, "Sir, is it changed?" The priest did answer, "Yes.

It's changed from common bread and wine to truly flesh and blood;

Begorra, lass, this power of mine has changed it into God!"

So having blessed the bread and wine, to eat they did prepare.

The lady said unto the priest, "I warn you to take care,

For half an ounce of arsenic was mixed right in the batter,

But since you have its nature changed, it cannot really matter."

The priest was struck real dumb; he looked as pale as death.

The bread and wine fell from his hands and he did gasp for breath.

"Bring me my horse!" the priest cried, "This is a cursed home!"

The lady replied, "Begone; this you who shares the curse of Rome."

The husband, too, he sat surprised, and not a word did say.

At length he spoke, "My dear," said he, "the priest has run away;

To gulp such mummery and tripe, I'm not for sure, quite able;

I'll go with you and we'll renounce this Roman Catholic fable.

-Author unknown.

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Decree QUO PRIMUM

The Tridentine only group has a lot of tradition and a lot of papal support for its position. One outstanding example is the Papal Decree QUO PRIMUM written by Pope St. Pius V, on July 19, 1570. Herewith the text of that decree.

"By this our decree, to be valid IN PERPETUITY, we determine and order that NEVER shall anything be added to, omitted from, or changed in this Missal. . .

"We specifically warn all persons in authority, of whatever dignity or rank, Cardinals not excluded, and command them, as a matter of strict obedience, NEVER to use or permit any ceremonies or Mass prayers other than the ones contained in this Missal ordered by the Sacred Council of Trent and encompassing all that is necessary to preserve a pure and universally uniform way of worshiping. . .

"At no time in the future can a priest, whether secular or order priest, ever be forced to use any other way of saying Mass. And so as to preclude once and for all any scruples of conscience and fear of ecclesiastical penalties and censures, we herewith declare that it is in virtue of our Apostolic Authority that we decree and determine that this our present order and decree is to last IN PERPETUITY and can never be legally revoked or amended at a future date . . .

"And if anyone would nevertheless ever dare to attempt any action contrary to this order of ours, given for all times, let him know that he has incurred the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul."

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