The Apology of the Augsburg ConfessionMelanchthon, Philipp
Religion
The Apology of the Augsburg Confession
Melanchthon, Philipp
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms
Neither does the Greek canon apply the offering as a satisfaction for
the dead, because it applies it equally for all the blessed
patriarchs, prophets, apostles. It appears therefore that the Greeks
make an offering as thanksgiving, and do not apply it as satisfaction
for punishments. [For, of course, it is not their intention to
deliver the prophets and apostles from purgatory, but only to offer
up thanks along and together with them for the exalted eternal
blessings that have been given to them and us.] Although they speak,
moreover, not of the offering alone of the body and blood of the Lord,
but of the other parts of the Mass, namely, prayers and thanksgiving.
For after the consecration they pray that it may profit those who
partake of it, they do not speak of others. Then they add: _Eti
prospheromen soi tehn logikehn tautehn latreian huper tohn en pistei
anapausamenohn propatorohn, paterohn, patriarchohn, prophertohn,
apostolohn_, etc. ["Yet we offer to you this reasonable service for
those having departed in faith, forefathers, fathers, patriarchs
prophets, apostles," etc.] Reasonable service, however, does not
signify the offering itself, but prayers and all things which are
there transacted. Now, as regards the adversaries' citing the
Fathers concerning the offering for the dead, we know that the
ancients speak of prayer for the dead, which we do not prohibit, but
we disapprove of the application _ex opere operato_ of the Lord's
Supper on behalf of the dead. Neither do the ancients favor the
adversaries concerning the _opus operatum_. And even though they
have the testimonies especially of Gregory or the moderns, we oppose
to them the most clear and certain Scriptures. And there is a great
diversity among the Fathers. They were men, and could err and be
deceived. Although if they would now become alive again, and would
see their sayings assigned as pretexts for the notorious falsehoods
which the adversaries teach concerning the opus operatum, they would
interpret themselves far differently.
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