Has the Mass changed much since 200 A.D.?

[JamalChristophr]

Or 100 AD for that matter? Anyone know? How much is the mass still the same and or different since the times of the Early Chirstians? Saint Paul called it the breaking of the bread, right, among other things? Has anyone studied and read up on how the mass was celebrated very early on?

 

[ahs]

Justin Martyr described the Mass and it was very much akin to what we have now. However, there are likely some stark cultural differences in some parts of the Mass. If memory serves, the Traditional Latin Mass of today is only as old as Trent (1500’s), and was somewhat of a change from the Mass known prior (which was supposed to date from the 1200’s??). I am shooting off blind memory here, from a discussion I once had with my late brother, who was very much into early Church history.
Anyway, here is some of Justin Martyr’s explanation that I did manage to copy down:

How did the Early Christians Worship?

[65] “After we have thus washed the one who has believed and has assented, we lead him to where those who are called brethren are gathered...

daves-ahumbleservant.blogspot.com

 

[Maximilian75]

and Trent was simply a codification of the Gregorian Mass, whixh came to be in I want to say the early 600s…

 

[mythbuster1]

Well, they didn’t have the rotation of readings the way we do today, given that they didn’t have an established canon yet. Consequently, some Scriptures weren’t read in all places, and some regions read non-Scriptural books as though they were Scripture.

 

[ahs]

If you want to get a taste of some other ancient Mass customs, that are very different from the Latin Rite, yet still completely recognizable as a Catholic Mass, try some of the Eastern Rites. We went to a Byzantine Church (in communion with Rome) once and celebrated in the Ruthenian Divine Liturgy (Mass) and it was absolutely wonderful, completely unique, yet completely recognizable. Afterwards, as we visited in the parish hall, that same parish was celebrating a Melkite Divine Liturgy, which was equally beautiful, unique to its culture, and still completely recognizable as a Catholic Mass.

https://www.stjohnchrysostom.com/

 

[adamhovey1988]

Not that different. I mean there are some differences that are external, but largely how Mass is conducted, has remained unchanged since the earliest centuries of Christianity. I’d give you some sources, but I’m actually working out right now.

 

[JamalChristophr]

I’ve been to one divine liturgy, I think, for the Byzantine Rite…well, actually, I sat in for part of it. I would go more often as we have one each sunday at our church but it’s 3 hours long which kind of puts a strain on my A.D.D.

Very Beautiful, though.

I wonder how long the masses were back in the Early Church. (Perhaps I should not laugh, but I thought it interesting that one boy fell asleep while Paul was going on and on, and the kid fell from a height and had to be brought back to life. More than, let’s say one hour and 15 minutes kind of maxes me out but I like going to the Easter Vigil sometimes.