History of Liturgy

  • Thread starter Thread starter jonnyws
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jonnyws

Guest
Hi there.

Can anyone point me to a good book on liturgical history. Preferably dealing with the worship of first century Christians up to St Gregory the Great?

Thanks,

Jonny
 
Hmmm…there isn’t much that covers the first two centuries as there isn’t much written during that period. Probably the standard reference would be The Mass of the Roman Rite by Jungmann. Dom Alcuin Reid has written about the development of the Liturgy and includes a small section on early liturgical praxis. From an Eastern perspective there’s always Through Their Own Eyes: Liturgy as the Byzantines Saw It by Archimandrite Robert Taft, S.J. which uses the writings of the people who experienced the early liturgies. There is an old history by Fr. Adrian Fortescue called The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described that also includes some liturgical history. This book is being updated and reissued by Dom Alcuin Reid but has not yet been issued.

Deacon Ed
 
There is also a book called the Mass of the Early Christians by Mike Aquila that offers some good details. The writings of St. Justin Martyr and Pope St. Clement of Rome also give some good insight (these were the earliest of the Church Fathers). You mgiht also want to read the Didache, the Teaching of the 12. Believe it or not, the hymn, “Father, We Thank Thee Who Has Planted” comes from the Didache.
 
Thanks a lot guys. I just hope that one of the libraries round here has some of these in!
 
I have a book from the 1920s by Archdale A. King titled Notes on the Catholic Liturgies. It gives the Roman Rite a pretty thorough going-over, pointing out where various prayers and parts of the Mass entered the Roman Rite throughout history. It also treats the other Western and Eastern liturgies too.
 
Do you (or does anyone) know where one can get a copy of King’s Notes on the liturgies? i have had no luck online and the Catholic book stores here also does not have it
 
Phil_teacher said:
Do you (or does anyone) know where one can get a copy of King’s Notes on the liturgies? i have had no luck online and the Catholic book stores here also does not have it
Click to expand...
My copy I am borrowing from the retired bishop of my diocese. No idea where one would find it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top