An Absence Of Priests

Sed nec in illo, fratres dilectissimi, aliqua potest aut religionis, aut fidei jactura sentiri, quod illic nunc sacerdotibus Dei datur offerendi et celebrandi sacrificia divina. Celebratis imo atque offertis sacrificium Deo et pretiosum pariter et gloriosum, et plurimum vobis ad retributionem praemiorum coelestium; cum scriptura divina loquatur et dicat: Sacrificium contribulatus, cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non despicit. Hoc vos sacrificium Deo offertis, hoc sacrificium sine intermissione die ac nocte celebratis, hostiae facti Deo, et vosmetipsos sanctas atque immaculatas victimas exhibentes, sicut Apostolus adhortatur et dicit: Oro ergo vos fratres per misericordiam Dei, ut constituatis  corpora vestra hostiam vivam, sanctam, placentem Deo; nec configuremini seculo huic, sed transformamini in renovatione sensus, ad probandum quae sit voluntas Dei  bona et placens, et perfecta. Hoc est enim quod praecipue Deo placeat: hoc est, in quo majoribus meritis ad promerendam voluntatem Dei opera nostra proveniant: hoc est, quod solum Domino de beneficiis ejus grandibus et salutaribus fidei ac devotionis nostrae obsequia retribuant, praedicante in Psalmis et contestante Spiritu sancto: Quid retribuam, inquit,  Domino pro omnibus quae tribuit mihi? Calicem salutaris accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo. Pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors justorum ejus. Quis non libenter et promte calicem salutis accipiat? Quis non appetat gaudibundus et laetus, in quo aliquid et ipse Domino suo retribuat? Quis non pretiosam in conspectu Domini mortem fortiter et constanter excipiat; placiturus ejus oculis, qui nos in congressione nominis sui desuper spectans, volentes comprobat, adjuvat dimicantes, vincentes coronat, retributione bonitatis ac pietatis paternae remunerans in nobis quidquid ipse praestitit, et honorans quod ipse perfecit? Sanctus Cyprianus, Epistola LXXVII Ad Nemesianum et Caeteros Martyras in Metallo Constitutos Source: Migne PL 4.417a-418a

But not in that, beloved brethren, can there be felt any loss of either religion or faith, because now there is no opportunity for God's priests to celebrate the divine sacrifices; rather you celebrate and offer a sacrifice to God equally precious and glorious, and which will greatly profit you in the giving of heavenly rewards, since the sacred Scripture speaks, saying, 'The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God does not despise.' 1 You offer this sacrifice to God; you celebrate this sacrifice without pause day and night, being made victims to God, and exhibiting yourselves as holy and unspotted offerings, as the Apostle exhorts and says, 'I beseech you, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. Do not conform to this world, but be transformed in the renewal of your mind, that you know what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' 2 For this is that which is especially pleasing to God; this is that in which our works attain to the earning of God's good will with greater rewards; this is that which alone the obedience of our faith and devotion can return to the Lord for His great and saving benefits, as in the Psalms the Holy Spirit declares and witnesses: 'What shall I return,' He says, 'to the Lord for all His benefits to me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His righteous ones.'3 Who would not gladly and readily receive the cup of salvation? Who would not with joy and gladness desire that by which he himself may return something to His Lord? Who would not bravely and without flinching receive a death precious in the sight of the Lord, to please His eyes, who, looking down from above on us who are placed in the conflict for His name, approves the willing, assists those who struggle, and crowns the conquering with the recompense of patience, goodness, and affection, rewarding in us whatever He has given, and honouring what He has accomplished? Saint Cyprian of Carthage, from Letter 76, to Nemesianus and the Other Martyrs in the Mines 1 Ps 50.18 2 Rom 12.1, Phil 3.21 3 Ps 115.12, 13,15