Saw this on History International

[SF3CHURCH]

The other night I was watching a History International show on the decline of the Roman Empire, specifically the persecutions under Emperor Dacian. Surprisingly, when talking about the Christians, they showed what looked like an early mass. The priest held up the bread and cup of wine during the consecration, and they showed the celebrants receiving communion while kneeling. What was interesting to me was that they showed the priest tracing the sign of the cross while holding the host before placing it on the tongue of the communicant. I’ve never seen this done before, and I was wondering if it was a practice from the Tridentine Rite or some other rite. I’ve been to a Byzantine Divine Liturgy, and I did not see this done there. Is anyone out there familiar with this practice? Thanks.

 

[Cluny]

I saw this same series.

Don’t expect details of dramatic recreations to be historically true, especially when they are talking about Christianity.

I’m sure there was a certain amount of projecting back a dozen or more centuries, like Anne Emmerich did in her revelations.

 

[Murray1105]

Although I have not yet read it, but I intend to, Mike Aqulina has a book called “the mass of the early christians”. Perhaps that would be a good place to look

 

[yinekka]

I second the recommendation for Mike Aqulina’s Mass of the Early Christians. Mike uses writings from the times to show that the Early Church was Catholic and believed in the Real Presence.

Writings on exactly what happened at the Eucharists is scarce because it was a secret. Catechumans were not permitted to remain in the Church for the consecration. St Justin Martyr broke the silence when he defended the Christians, to the emperor, of the charge of canabalism. All of this is in Mike’s book.

 

[elzoro]

The other night I was watching a History International show on the decline of the Roman Empire, specifically the persecutions under Emperor Dacian. Surprisingly, when talking about the Christians, they showed what looked like an early mass. The priest held up the bread and cup of wine during the consecration, and they showed the celebrants receiving communion while kneeling. What was interesting to me was that they showed the priest tracing the sign of the cross while holding the host before placing it on the tongue of the communicant. I’ve never seen this done before, and I was wondering if it was a practice from the Tridentine Rite or some other rite. I’ve been to a Byzantine Divine Liturgy, and I did not see this done there. Is anyone out there familiar with this practice? Thanks.

Yes, this practice of the priest tracing the sign of the cross while holding the host before placing it on the tongue of the communicant is exactly what the priest does in the Traditional Rite (Tridentine). While he’s doing that, the priest says “Corpus Domini Nostri Jesu Cristi costodiat animam tuum in vitam aeternum, amen”, which translates “May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul unto life everlasting, amen.”

 

[Cluny]

Yes, this practice of the priest tracing the sign of the cross while holding the host before placing it on the tongue of the communicant is exactly what the priest does in the Traditional Rite (Tridentine). While he’s doing that, the priest says “Corpus Domini Nostri Jesu Cristi costodiat animam tuum in vitam aeternum, amen”, which translates “May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul unto life everlasting, amen.”

And does it follow that this was done in the first three centuries, as show in the dramatic recreation on the History Channel?

I don’t think soi.

 

[SF3CHURCH]

Yes, this practice of the priest tracing the sign of the cross while holding the host before placing it on the tongue of the communicant is exactly what the priest does in the Traditional Rite (Tridentine). While he’s doing that, the priest says “Corpus Domini Nostri Jesu Cristi costodiat animam tuum in vitam aeternum, amen”, which translates “May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul unto life everlasting, amen.”

Thanks, that’s what I was interested in knowing. I do realize that the show wasn’t entirely accurate, as has been stated, since they showed the priest facing the congregation. However, the emphasis on the Eucharist as the central focus of the Mass was indeed correct, and that certainly surprised me for a History Channel show.