The Biblical and Historic foundations of the mass still remains almost unknown to many Catholics worldwide. In today’s excepts of the insightful teachings by Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp titled Encountering Jesus Christ in the mass we look at the Biblical and Historical foundations of the mass:
SOME BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE MASS
a. Old Testament.
Basically, the Holy Mass is prefigured or foreshadowed in the Jewish Passover (cf. Ex. 12), and it is situated in the context of the Old Covenant between God and his Elect, the Israelites. Be that as it may, the Jewish Passover festival becomes an anticipation of the Christian Easter, when Christ, the true Lamb of God who is sacrificed and eaten to bring salvation to the people of the New
Covenant, leads us to new life. This new life is premised on the Covenant of love (Jn. 13:34-35).
b. New Testament
- Last Supper: Institution of two sacraments–Eucharist and Holy Orders (Mt. 26:17-30;Mk.14:12-26; Lk. 22:7-20). [The two sacraments are inseparable; the latter is because of the former]. Sacrament is simply an outward sign of inward grace. It is something sacred. In fact, it is fundamental and helpful to state that the whole spectrum of the economy of salvation is founded on a sacramental principle or structure. By sacramental principle, we simply mean that visible, physical, tangible and concrete realities can be used to convey or to point to invisible, spiritual, intangible and inner realities. So, bread and wine are consecrated and they become the Body and Blood of Christ, which is the Holy Eucharist.
- The Road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35)
- St. Paul and the handing on of the tradition of the Eucharist (I Cor. 11:23-32).
SOME HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE MASS
- Since the early Christian communities operated as house-churches, the Breaking of bread, what some call love feasts, were a common practice (Acts 2:42). This contributed to the development of the Mass.
- Didache –This late first-century document contains important teaching on baptism, fasting,prayer, prophets and the Eucharist. Also, it lists some historical evidence of major events of the apostles and the nascent church, handed down to us as Sacred Tradition.
- The Apology of St. Justin the Martyr (ca. 100-165 AD) [an early Christian writer], considered as an Apostolic Father/Father of the Church and the first Christian Apologist. Fathers of the Church refer to writers of Christian antiquity who had a major impact on the doctrinal tradition of the Church. The period of the Fathers is said to have ended in the West with St. Gregory the great (mid-seventh century) and in the East with St. John of Damascus in AD 749 (eight century). Justin was a pagan philosopher who converted to Christianity. He used his intellectual and spiritual gifts to defend the faith to the point of shedding his blood. He wrote various books to enlighten people about Christ. In his scholarly work, Apology, he gives a detailed account of how Mass was celebrated by the early Church.
- Later Developments: The form of the Mass as we have it today, has gone through somereforms. There have been tremendous developments although the basic structure has been maintained. Also, there have been liturgical movements which have played a major role in liturgical reforms in the Church. We now have several Eucharistic prayers, prefaces, etc. for solemnities, feasts, memorials, etc. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) fostered an aggiornamento (a bringing up to date [update/renewal]) of the liturgy which opened the door for the use of vernaculars as a means of enculturating the gospel. Until this time, Mass in the West was rendered in Latin.
Today, Mass is said in many languages across the world.
By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp
Download full document on Encountering Jesus Christ at Mass By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp