ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 26th of August
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SAINT MELCHIZEDEK, KING OF SALEM
Saint Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram with these words:
Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth... Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:18-19, 20)
Saint Melchizedek briefly appears in the Old Testament as a priest-king who brought gifts and a blessing to Abram (later called Abraham). He was the king of "Salem," a town which many generations later became Jerusalem. The origin of the order of Melchizedek’s priesthood is not specified. The writer of Psalm 110 asserts that Melchizedek is a priest forever.
THE EXTRAORDINARY PRIESTHOOD OF MELCHIZEDEK
The biblical Book of Hebrews makes the connection between Melchizedek and Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1544) explains that the extraordinary priesthood of Melchizedek is traditionally believed to have foreshadowed the priesthood of Christ.
Melchizedek’s gifts to Abram of bread and wine seem to herald the elements used by Jesus during the Last Supper. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1333) considers these gifts to have been a presentiment of the offerings of the Church.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER I
"Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim."
(📷 A tapestry depicting Melchizedek and Abram)
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