Liturgical Timeline of the Roman Mass

Jack P. Oostveen


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Ecclesia Dei NL

Logo Latin Mass

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  1. Eucharist Sacrifice, the preparatory elements of the Liturgy and the Command
    The most important components of this Eucharistic celebration are a liturgy of the Word, which includes Old and New Testament readings, namely "writings of the Prophets" and the "memoirs of the Apostles" [9, p83], sermons and intercessory prayers, followed by a Eucharistic prayer of blessing of fiber bread and wine mixed with water, from which those present receive [1, p25; 23, #65-67].
  2. Generally

    1. St. Ignatius of Antioch:
      "I desire the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jeses Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of David and Abraham, and I desire the drink of God, namely His Blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life". [29, #7]
      "Take heed, then, to have but one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along with the presbytery and deacans, mfellow-servants: that so, whatsoever you do, you may do it according to God". [30, #4]
    2. St. Clement of Rome:
      The Lord has commanded us to perform at stated times. He has enjoined offerings [to be presented] and service to be performed [to Him], and that not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done, He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will, in order that all things, being piously done according to His good pleasure, may be acceptable unto Him. Those, therefore, who present their offerings at the appointed times, are accepted and blessed; for inasmuch as they follow the laws of the Lord, they sin not. For his own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests, and their own special ministrations devolve on the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen [1, p11-12; 24, #40].
    3. St. Polycarp:
      Let us then serve Him in fear, and with all reverence, even as He Himself has commanded us, and as the apostles who preached the Gospel unto us, and the prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Lord [1, p5; 25, #6].
    4. Tertullian:
      "The Roman Church," he says, "combines (miscet) the Law and the Prophets she unites in one volume with the writings of evangelists and apostles, from which she drinks in her faith. This she seals with the water (of baptism), arrays with the Holy Spirit, feeds with the Eucharist" [1, p38; 26, #36].
    In more detail
    1. St. Justin: Lessons from the Bible, as long as time allows [20, #67,3];
      Tertullian: The Mass of the Catechumens contains lessons from Scripture, sung psalms, a sermon and prayers. Psalms are sung alternately by two cantors between the lessons. The Catechumens and penitents are expelled after the sermon [1, p39];
    2. St. Justin: Sermon by the Bishop [20, #67,4];
      Tertullian: Every Lord's day, they gather together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure [21, #XIV]
    3. St. Justin: Prayers said by all standing for all kinds people[20, #65,1; #67,5];
      Tertullian: The attitude of public prayer is standing with uplifted hands, facing the East.8 He describes the clauses of public prayer: "Lifting up our hands . . . we pray always for all the emperors, that they may have a long life, a firm empire, a safe home, strong armies, a faithful senate, loyal people, quiet territory and whatever else may be desired by men and by Caesar" [1, p39];
    4. St. Justin: Kiss of Peace [20, #65,3];
      Terullian: There was a kiss of peace after prayer with the brethren [1, p39];
    5. St. Justin: Bread and wine with water are brought up and received by Bishop [20, #65,3; #67,5];
      Tertullian: After the "Mass of the Catechumens" the "offering of the sacrifice" follows. He alludes to the beginning of the preface and to the Sanctus: "Certainly it is right that God should be blessed by all men in every place and at all time for the due memory always of his benefits. . . . To whom that court of angels does not cease to say Holy, holy, holy. Wherefore we, fellows of the angels if we deserve to be, learn that heavenly voice towards God and the duty of future glory already here" [1, p40];
    6. St. Justin: Thanksgiving (Eucharistic prayer, Anaphora) said by the Bishop [20, #65,3];
      Tertullian: The "thanksgivings (gratiarum actiones)" are said over the bread; he also calls this "to consecrate (consecrare)".
    7. St. Justin: Memory of our Lord's passion, including the words of institution [20, #67,5];
      Tertullian: He quotes the words of Institution at the last Supper, but says nothing about their use at Mass [1, p40];
      St. Ignatius of Antioch, He spoke of the Eucharist, which is celebrated by the Bishop or his delegate, as an effective sign of the unity of the Church [6, p59];
    8. St. Justin: The people end this prayer saying 'Amen' [20, #65,3; #67,5];
      Tertullian: The Lord's Prayer was said, it is the "legitima oratio"; its place in the service is not defined [1, p40];
    9. St. Justin: Communion under both kinds [20, #65,5; #67,5];
      Tertullian: People received Communion under both' kinds, the celebrant giving the consecrated bread, the deacons the chalice. They are careful that nothing fall to the ground [1, p40]: "we feel pained should any wine or bread, even though our own, becast upon the ground" [18, p6o n21]
    10. A collection for the poor [20, #67,6].
  3. The key biblical text for the early Christian understanding of the Eucharist
  4. Apostolic Practice and the Oral Tradition
    1. The daily and Sunday celebration
      • Pliny the Younger: ascertained from them (the Christians) that they met "on a fixed day" before dawn to sing a hymn to Christ as to a God and commit themselves to moral conduct [6, p73].
      • Tertullian: Sunday was the Holy Day on which particularly the Eucharist was celebrated [1, p41].
      • Tertullian: He spoke of the Eucharist, which is celebrated by the Bishop or his delegate, as an effective sign of the unity of the Church [6, p59]
      • Mass was said every day too, very early in the morning [1, p41].
      • He records that the "sacrament of the Eucharist" or "sacrifice" at the "altar of God" is celebrated in the morning. Thereby he also clearly distinguishes the Eucharist from the convivial "supper of God" held in the evening.[6, p74];
    2. Eucharist Fast
      • Tertullian: he testifies to the requirement to fast before receiving the Eucharist as does the Apostolic Tradition [6, p74; 17].
      • Obviously the referrence to the practice of celebrating the H. Mass in the morning may most probably indicate the Apostolic practice of Eucharist Fast [6; p73].
    3. Additional Practices
      • There were stations-days and feasts [1, p41];
      • The Altar contained relics [1, p41];
      • Incense was used only for funerals [1, p41];