Does anyone have a link to good resources regarding these two things;
- The structure of mass to it’s earliest traceable point (obviously after the last supper, but pre 1st council)
One of the earliest descriptions of the structure of the Mass is this one from St. Justin Martyr: On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.
The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits.
When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.
Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves…and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.
When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.
Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.
He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.
When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: ‘Amen.’
When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the “eucharisted” bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.
source The Catechism cites this from St. Justin’s Apology 1, paragraphs 65 - 67, the full context of which can be read here:
newadvent.org/fathers/0126.htm (Scroll to Chapter 65)
- The supporting evidence for the Lineage of the early Fathers after St Peter, St Paul, St Linus & St Anacletus. Leading up to the 1st century and afterwards, basically.
I think you mean “leading up to the second century and afterwards,” not leading up to the first century. The first century was from 1 A.D to 100 A.D. and the first pope, St. Peter the Apostle, lived and died
in the first century. It would be hard to have popes “leading up to the 1st century” because that would require popes before Christ.
Anyway, one of the earliest lists of popes from Peter up through the second century is the list given by St. Irenaeus in 180 A.D. This is in his book Against Heresies Book 3 Chapter 3 Paragraph 3, which can be read here:
newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm (scroll to paragraph 3)
There is one source for a possible earlier list. Some of the Church Fathers said that the early Catholic chronicler Hegesippus wrote a history of the Church in five volumes before his death in 180 A.D. (Now, by itself that date isn’t much earlier than St. Irenaeus, but keep reading.) Unfortunately, Hegesippus’ history hasn’t survived. However, a man named Eusebius relied upon Hegesippus’ material to compose his own 10-volume History of the Church, which is now one of the earliest examples of a surviving Church history. You can read it here:
newadvent.org/fathers/2501.htm
Eusebius lists the popes who succeeded Peter as a major part of his narrative – he doesn’t list them all at once from 64 A.D. to 325 A.D., but instead devotes a chapter of each book of his Church History to listing the popes who held office during the period he covers in that volume. Now, since he relies upon and quotes Hegesippus so much, and since Hegesippus visited Rome when he composed his lost 5 volume Church History, I think it is safe to infer that Eusebius draws his list of popes from Hegesippus.
Hegesippus probably got his list from the Church of Rome itself when he visited it before writing his Church History in 180 A.D. Thus, the list he used is probably older than 180 A.D., and that is probably the list that shows up, divided into parts, throughout the Church History of Eusebius.
So we have good evidence of who was pope from Peter through the fourth century, and very good documentation after that as well.
Please let me know if that is helpful. God bless!
**EDIT :: I just realized you asked for a lineage of
Fathers after St. Peter and Paul, not just a lineage of popes. Sorry if I misunderstood you, I still hope that what I wrote is helpful
