Words of consecration of wine at Holy Mass

(April 29.2012) A top Vatican Official has spoken of a controversy over a phrase in the words of consecration of wine at Holy Mass. Jesuit Father, Federico Lombardi, in his Saturday editorial speaks of a letter written by Pope Benedict XVI to the German Bishops regarding the translation of the phrase, “This is the chalice of my blood which will be shed for you and for many…” Instead of “for many” it had been suggested that it should be worded as “for all” as more expressive of the universality of salvation. The phrase for many is more faithful to the biblical text. For the Pope the words of institution of the Eucharist are fundamental. The words “for many” identifies Jesus with the suffering servant of Isaiah. Without questioning in any way the universality of salvation, we are called upon to be faithful to the words of Jesus. The Pope has spoken of these words in his book on Jesus of Nazareth. He had written on this subject to the German Bishop in the week after Easter while he was at his summer residence of Castelgandolfo.