St. Athanasius, Sermon to the Newly Baptized (ante 373 AD) [in St.
Eutyches (+582 AD) Sermon on Easter and the Holy Eucharist]
“Let us approach the celebration of the mysteries. This bread and this wine,
so as long as the prayers and supplications have not taken place, remain
simply what they are. But after the great prayers and holy supplications
have been sent forth, the Word comes down into the bread and wine––and
thus is His Body confected.”
St. Ambrose of Milan, Commentaries on Twelve of David’s Psalms
38, 25 (inter 381-397 AD)
“We saw the Prince of Priests coming to us, we saw and heard Him
offering His blood for us. We follow, inasmuch as we are able, being
priests; and we offer the sacrifice on behalf of the people. And even if we
are of but little merit, still, in the sacrifice, we are honorable. For even if
Christ is not now seen as the one who offers the sacrifice, nevertheless it is
He Himself that is offered in sacrifice here on earth when the Body of
Christ is offered. Indeed, to offer Himself He is made visible to us, He
whose word makes holy the sacrifice that is offered.”
St. Augustine of Hippo, Letter to Boniface, Bishop 98, 9 (408 AD)
“Was not Christ immolated only once in His very Person? In the
Sacrament, nevertheless, He is immolated for the people not only on every
Easter Solemnity but on every day; and a man would not be lying if, when
asked, he were to reply that Christ is being immolated. For if the
Sacraments had not a likeness to those things of which they are
Sacraments, they would not be Sacraments at all; and they generally take
the names of those same things by reason of this likeness.”
St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermon Against the Jews 9, 13 (post 425 AD)
“‘From the rising of the sun even to its setting My name is great among the
Gentiles, and in every place sacrifice is offered to My name, a clean
oblation; for My name is great among the Gentiles, says the Lord
Almighty.’ What do you answer to that? Open your eyes at last, then, any
time, and see, from the rising of the sun to its setting, the sacrifice of
Christians is offered, not in one place only, as was established with you
Jews, but everywhere; and not to just any god at all, but to Him who
foretold it, the God of Israel … Not in one place, as was prescribed for you
in the earthly Jerusalem, but in every place, even in Jerusalem herself. Not
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