[Sermones de eucharistiae sacramento]

Second cause of institution

The second cause of the institution of this sacrament is the sacrifice of the altar against a certain daily rapine of our offenses, so that the body of the Lord, as it was offered on the cross for the original debt, might be offered continually for our daily offenses on the altar, and in this the Church might have a gift to appease God for itself, more precious and acceptable than all the sacrifices or sacraments of the law.

Malachias 3: "The sacrifice of Juda and Jerusalem shall please the Lord as in the days of old" Malachias 3, that is, of Christ and the Church.

Item, Pope Alexander: Nothing in sacrifices can be greater than the body and blood of Christ, nor is any offering more powerful than this, but it excels all others, which is to be offered pure to God and taken with a pure mind, and just as it is more powerful than others, so it ought to be exalted and venerated more.
A threefold reason for changing the old sacrifice

To approve this sacrifice, a threefold reason for changing the old sacrifice is to be noted: the first is the power of the author of our sacrifice; the second is the demand of our debts; the third is the insufficiency of that sacrifice.
i

The first reason for changing the sacrifices of the law is the power of the author of our sacrifice, namely Christ, who not only because he is the Lord and King of the whole earth, but also from the translation of the supreme priesthood to him, could and should change his own sacrifice for the better, just as a king can in his kingdom, when he wishes, renew lesser money.

Psalm: "The Lord has sworn and he will not repent: You are a priest according to the order of Melchisedech."

It does not say "according to the order of Aaron" or "according to the rite of the Levites" who offered the flesh of goats and bulls.
§ "According to the order of Melchisedech," who offered bread and wine.

Hebrews 7: "What was necessary, according to the order of Melchisedech, for another priest to rise and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?"

I answer: The priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation of the law be made. For it is manifest that the Lord sprang from the tribe of Juda, concerning which according to the law there were no priests.
ij

The second reason for changing the sacrifices of the law is the demand of our debts. For so great was the debt of our first parents from the magnitude of the rapine, from the ingratitude of the robber, from the majesty of the offended Creator, that not only the sacrifices of the law but the whole world with every creature did not suffice for satisfaction.

Hebrews 10: "Christ, entering the world, says: 'Sacrifice and oblation you would not, but a body you have fitted to me.'"

Gloss: Entering the world, that is, made man, he says: "Host of animals and oblation of other things you would not," that is, they did not please you. "But a body, which is for all sacrifices, which you fitted to me without sin," that is, you gave me a fit and suitable one by uniting it to me, which may be able to be offered for the redemption of all.

Psalm: "My enemies have persecuted me, many. I was then paying that which I took not" Psalm 68.

When, namely, for the debts of all, I was offering a sufficient sacrifice on the cross.
iii

The third reason for changing the sacrifices of the law is their insufficiency, and this is proved by three things: because they did not please God, because they did not take away sins, and because they did not offer grace. §