Hi g,
We also interpret through our filters as to just what was Catholic and her sacraments back then. So today’s Catholic context is not quite the same as back then. Maybe the same is true for the Protestant context(that it can change,evolve). St. Augustine speaks out of his time and circumstances.
Blessings
I would say that Augustine speaks beyond his time and circumstances, but also within them. The CC was completely sacramental from before the NT was completed. I will agree that the way the Sacraments were practiced has changed in some ways, but when we read about the celebration of the Mass with Justin Martyr, it is clear that Augustine embraced the faith that was written.
JUSTIN MARTYR
Converted A.D. 133, Martyr A.D. 165. “A disciple of Apostles” (Ep. ad Diogn.); “A man not far from the Apostles, either in time or in virtue” (S. Method, in Phot. Cod. 247).
S. Justin speaks of the consecrated elements, as not being common bread or common drink (above, pp. 92; 144); he believed that our Lord by “the fruit of the vine” meant real wine (above, pp. 134–136); and that the consecrated elements nourished (p. 144).
“We, after we have thus washed him who is persuaded and has assented to our belief, lead him to those called brethren, where they are assembled, that we may with earnestness make common prayers for ourselves and the enlightened [baptized] person, and all others every where, that it may be vouchsafed to us, having learned the truth, to be found, in deeds good administrators and guardians of the commandments, that so we may be saved by an everlasting salvation. Having ceased from the prayers, we greet one another with a kiss; then bread and a cup of water and wine are brought to him who presideth over the brethren, and he, receiving them, sendeth up praise and glory to the Father of all, through the Name of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and maketh at much length an Eucharistic prayer for having had these things vouchsafed to him. When he hath ended the prayer and thanksgiving, the whole people present join in with one voice, saying, Amen (but Amen is in Hebrew, ‘so be it’). He who presideth, having made this prayer, and all the people having assented, those called among us ‘deacons’ give to each of those present to partake of the bread, and wine and water, over which thanksgiving has been made, and carry it to those not present.
“This Food is amongst us called Eucharist, whereof no one may partake, save he who believeth that what is taught by us is true, and hath been washed in that laver which is for the remission of sins and to regeneration, and liveth as Christ hath delivered; for we do not receive It as common bread or as common drink, but, in what way Jesus Christ our Saviour, being through the Word of God Incarnate, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so also have we been taught that the Food, over which thanksgiving has been made by the prayer of the word which is from Him (from which [food] our blood and flesh are by transmutation nourished), is the Flesh and Blood of Him, the Incarnate Jesus. For the Apostles, in their records which are called the Gospels, have delivered that Jesus so commanded them, that He, having taken bread and given thanks, said, ‘Do this in remembrance of Me. This is My Body;’ and likewise, having taken the Cup and given thanks, He said, ‘This is My Blood,’ and gave it to them alone. Which also, wicked devils imitating, delivered to be observed in the mysteries of Mithra. For that bread and a cup of water are placed in the rites of the initiated, with certain words subjoined, ye either know, or can learn.
“Henceforward we ever remind one another of these things; and we, who have means, succour all who are needy, and are ever united to one another. And over all our oblations we bless the Creator of all things through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday all who live in city or country meet together, and the memoirs of the Apostles or the writings of Prophets are read, as the time permits. Then, when the reader has closed, he who presides admonishes and exhorts in a sermon to the imitation of these noble deeds. Then we all rise together, and send up prayers: and, as we said before, when we have done prayer, bread is brought, and wine, and water: and he who presides utters prayers and thanksgivings to the best of his power, and the people join in with one voice, saying, Amen: and those things over which the Eucharistic prayer has been said, are distributed and received by each, and are sent to the absent by the Deacons.”
This is the same structure of the Mass that we still follow today. It has been handed down from the Apostles.
