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33
Last Supper
Jesus asked his disciples to prepare a room so that they could celebrate the Passover meal. Jesus said “Take and eat. This is my body that will be given up for you.” This bread was now his body. It would be given up, that is offered on the cross. Jesus had broken with the Jewish traditions by breaking the bread – and so this was the first celebration of the Eucharist in history. He also did the same with the chalice, calling it his blood. -
50
The Apostles
Over time, the Eucharistic celebration develops through the apostles and their successors into the structure we are so familiar with today. "Breaking of the Bread" was the initial name given to the celebration, but they soon realise that the rite and the meal needs to be separated. This is due to celebrants wanting a more prayerful settings for this act of worship. To commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Eucharistic celebration is eventually rescheduled to take place every Sunday -
313
The Growth of the Eucharist
The year 313 was a turning point for Christianity. Persecutions suddenly ended. Constantine gave freedom to Christians and spent great sums of money building basilicas for Eucharistic worship. Modest house churches gradually ceased to exist.The celebrants wore clothes worthy of a Roman senator. During this era, important bishops like Augustine developed a theology of the Eucharist – his theme was - “The Body of Christ [Eucharist] builds the Body of Christ [Church].“ -
Period: 476 to 1492
Medieval Times (Eucharist becoming distant)
The Medieval times saw a growth in stunning cathedrals right across Europe. Colourful religious processions, pilgrimages to holy shrines, the birth of new religious orders and much more led some to call these centuries the “ages of faith”. However, during these times, active participation in the Mass declined. The altar was often hidden from public view. Priests conducted the liturgy without the need for participation of the congregation in the Eucharist. -
1215
Transubstantiation
In 1215 the church reaffirmed Christ’s Real Presence with the introduction of the concept of transubstantiation (the substance of bread becomes the
substance or “being” of Christ) to support this doctrine. -
1545
Council of Trent
It took the Church 28 years to gather to its energies and open the Council of Trent in 1545 to deal with Martin Luther’s Reformation of 1517. The Council Fathers called for a renewal of the mass. -
1570
Standard book for Celebration
In 1570 Pope Pius V responded to this call that would be a standard book for the celebration of Mass for the Western Church. The priest would celebrate both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the altar. The people would be devotional rather than liturgical. -
Vatican II
Thefirstdocumentapprovedbythe Fathers of Vatican II 1962-65 was the Constitution on the Liturgy. But a century before this the stirrings of liturgical change had begun. Benedictines had begun to revive earlier liturgical practices, such as Gregorian chant from the sixth century, and were studying the roots of Christian liturgy and the ways all Christians once had participated. Pope Pius X 1903-1914 encouraged the use of Gregorian chant, frequent Communion and lowering the age for First Communion -
Vatican II continued
In the last part of the 20th century the application of the document began. A number of
changes were introduced. The priest now faced the people. Vernacular languages replaced
the Latin. People shook hands at the greeting of peace. The congregation was asked to
participate actively in the Mass, to sing and pray at various times. People were invited to
receive Communion either in the hand or on the tongue and to stand at its reception.