History of the Kyrie?

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I know what it is and that it’s Greek not Latin, but can someone give me the history of it. It just seems to me that the Confiteor is more powerful to me in preparation of the Mass than the Kyrie is. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a liberal Catholic trying to take away from the Mass I just want to fully understand all that’s in it.
God Bless all here.
 
J.R.:
I know what it is and that it’s Greek not Latin, but can someone give me the history of it. It just seems to me that the Confiteor is more powerful to me in preparation of the Mass than the Kyrie is. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a liberal Catholic trying to take away from the Mass I just want to fully understand all that’s in it.
God Bless all here.
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The Kyrie comes from the Scriptures – the story of the Pharisee and the Publican. Since the Scriptures were written in Greek, this is found in Greek. It is prominent in the Eastern Litrugies – “Kyrie eleison” is said dozens of times during the Liturgy. It is also found in the Jesus prayer – “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” The Confiteor comes along much later in history – probably around the 7th or 8th century.

Deacon Ed
 
I have recently be wondering about the Kyrie myself. It seems to me, it is of such ancient origin that it proves the Catholic Mass can be dated back to the first century in answer to protestant critics who think the Catholic Church does not go back th the time of the apostles.
 
J.R.:
I know what it is and that it’s Greek not Latin, but can someone give me the history of it. It just seems to me that the Confiteor is more powerful to me in preparation of the Mass than the Kyrie is. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a liberal Catholic trying to take away from the Mass I just want to fully understand all that’s in it.
God Bless all here.
Click to expand...
I have laways understood it to be a Litany that was retained in the liturgy from when the Mass was celebrated in Greek in the first two or three centuries.
 
I would LOVE it if we had the Kyrie OR the Confiteor at Mass.

In the four years I’ve been at this parish, the priest uses option 3–always with completely different words. I have NEVER heard either the Confiteor OR the plain and simple, V. Lord, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. V. Lord, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

Wouldn’t you think that just once we would be able to not interpose our priest’s ADDITIONS to the Kyrie and focus on either the timeless beauty of confession in the presence of Mary and the saints, or the simple and powerful humility of the Kyrie?
 
I realize this might be difficult for some to believe, but I recall researching this very question in my post-graduate musicology classes; the actual ritual use of the “kyrie eleison” pre-dates its assimilation into the primitive church’s liturgy. In other words, cultic Greek oracles, priests, etc. invoked their appointed deity with the appelation “Lord.”
I believe that can easily be found in the Groves Dictionary of Music. “Christe,” of course was later incorporated into the evolving Christian rites. Another source I recall that addressed this was Johannes Quasten’s Music and Worship in Pagan and Christian Antiquity.
 
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