An opinion was added that infinitely increased private Masses. It states that Christ, by His passion, made satisfaction for original sin and instituted the Mass as an offering for daily sins, both venial and mortal. From this opinion has arisen the common belief that the Mass takes away the sins of the living and the dead simply by performing the outward act. Then they began to argue about whether one Mass said for many is worth as much as special Masses for individuals. This resulted in an infinite number of Masses. With this work, people wanted to obtain from God all that they needed, and in the meantime, trust in Christ and true worship were forgotten.
Our teachers have warned that these opinions depart from the Holy Scripture and diminish the glory of the passion of Christ. For Christ's passion was an offering and satisfaction, not only for original guilt, but also for other sins, as it is written, "We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, (Hebrews 10:10). Also, "By a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14). (It is an unheard-of innovation in the Church to teach that by His death Christ has made satisfaction only for original sin and not for all other sin. So it is hoped that everybody will understand that this error has been rebuked for good reason),
Scripture teaches that we are justified before God, through faith in Christ, when we believe that our sins are forgiven for Christ sake. Now if the Mass takes away the sins of the living and the dead simply by performing it, justification comes by doing Masses, and not of faith. Scripture does not allow this.
~BOC, AC, XXIV, 21-29
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