Welcome | Resources for Liturgy | Celebrating the Eucharist | The Mass: Sacrifice and Praise
One of the earliest known accounts of the Catholic Eucharistic celebration is given by the martyr, St Justin, around 150 AD. He recounts the gathering of a local Christian community for “the Breaking of the Bread”, which included the proclamation and explanation of Scripture, the Eucharistic meal, songs, prayers, and a collection for the poor.
By the fifth century, the language of the liturgy had gradually changed from Greek (which was originally the vernacular language) to Latin. Records from Rome, which date from the end of the eighth century, show that the elements of the Mass had been formalised and were almost the same as what we have now. After the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century, the Church prepared for the first time a missal (prayer book for the Mass) that was universally implemented (previously many local areas produced their own missals). This missal, which collected material from the many sources available at the time, formed the foundation for the celebration of Mass for four centuries.
The liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) were far-reaching, but focused completely on the earliest traditions of the Church. Ritual elements named by St Justin (such as the Prayer of the Faithful and Rite of Peace) were restored. Our current missal now uses prayers from many of the previous missals, including ancient texts only rediscovered in more recent times.
More Resources
Scripture references
- The First Converts, Life Among the Believers (Acts 2:37-47)
- The Institution of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:23-26)
from Together at One Altar
- Origins of the Eucharist
- The Early Church
- Religion of the Empire
- The Middle Ages
- Council of Trent
- Vatican II
- Overview of the Mass
What Are You Doing? The Assembly’s Guide to Mass
Writings of the Early Church
- First Apology of St Justin Martyr (refer particularly to Chapters 66 and 67)
Liturgy 