Agape feast

[Rocky8311]

What is the proper understanding of ancient Christian “Agape feasts” vis a vis the Mass and is an Agape feast at a Catholic retreat appropriate or could it distract from the meaning of the Mass in people’s minds?

 

[Caesar]

What is the proper understanding of ancient Christian “Agape feasts” vis a vis the Mass and is an Agape feast at a Catholic retreat appropriate or could it distract from the meaning of the Mass in people’s minds?

The Agape meal was separated from the Mass very early on, and died out before the 500s.

Besides that, I dont know much of it.

 

[John_Lilburne]

From an entry by Harold W. Attridge, “agape”, The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, 1995, ISBN 0006279317, page 24:

“… Agape came to be used for a special meal, a “love feast” in which both divine and human love were manifested in sharing and fellowship. Originally there seems to have been no distinction between community meals and the Eucharist (1 Cor 11:17-34). The two are distinguished by the early second century (Jude 12; Ignatius, Smyrn. 8.2). By the end of the century community meals are widely practiced (Tertullian Apology 39; Clement of Alexandria Paedagogue 2.1; Hippolytus Apostolic Tradition 26.1.2). The practice of the agape meal was eventually excluded from churches. …”.