Victime Divine, thy grace we claim
  • davido
    Posts: 940
    Can this text by Charles Wesley be read in a manner consistent with Catholic doctrine?
    Most commonly found verses are below:

    Victim Divine, thy grace we claim
    while thus thy precious death we show:
    once offered up, a spotless Lamb,
    in thy great temple here below,
    thou didst for all our kind atone,
    and standest now before the throne.

    Thou standest in the holiest place,
    as now for guilty sinners slain;
    thy blood of sprinkling speaks, and prays,
    all prevalent for helpless ones;
    thy blood is still our ransom found,
    and speaks salvation all around.

    We need not go up to heaven,
    to bring the long-sought Savior down;
    thou art to all already given,
    thou dost e’en now thy banquet crown:
    To every faithful soul appear,
    and show thy real presence here!
  • AndrewSteinerPiano
    Posts: 62
    Well clearly the third verse is a doctrine which goes against the Sacrifice of the Mass, because indeed our Lord Jesus Christ does come down to the Altar to save us. It would not be appropriate for the Sacred Liturgy.
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,460
    I read the last verse as saying we have the Lord really present in the sacred banquet. Here is a long article which discusses this particular hymn (in 5 verses) a bit over half way through. Neither John nor Charles Wesley accepted the thomist definition of transsubstantiation endorsed by the Council of Trent. They did however believe in the real presence, not just a presence that existed only for the believer.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,189
    In the 3rd stanza quoted, the first line is missing a word. It should read "We need not now go up to heaven".
    Thanked by 1chonak
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