What is the origin of the Mass? Is it explained in Scripture?

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At the last supper, when Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

Similar to when God told the Hebrews, “Do this every year at this time to remember when I delivered you from Egypt.” In regards to the Passover
 
Plus in Acts, the description of the believers coming together on the Lord’s Day to share in the breaking of the bread speaks of the Mass, and St. Paul also addresses it when he counsels that one not eat or drink unworthily.
 
Yep, I get the act of remembrance, and the tradition of Passover, but other than breaking bread together, the church in the book of Acts and in the remaining NT, I don’t see anything similar to a Catholic Mass celebrated, such as the re-sacrificing of Jesus at each gathering.
 
4Him said:
such as the re-sacrificing of Jesus at each gathering.
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Jesus is not re-sacrificed. His ONE sacrifice is made present to us through the consecration.
 
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Council of Trent, 13th Session, Canon I: “(the Eucharist) is truly, really and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ .” Catholic Mass is the “ unbloody sacrifice” of Jesus."

CCC 1367 "The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice : “The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.” “And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner. This sacrifice is truly propitiatory.”
 
But no one ate Jesus… and that would have violated Levitical and Rabinic law…
 
4Him said:
Thanks, do you have those passages…?
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Asking for a reference to the mass in the scriptures hints at a “sola scriptura” posture. Firstly, “mass” has a 20th century connotation - but if we were to go back to origins, it may be more relevant to look for references to a “paschal meal” or " the breaking of bread". These earliest references in the Acts and Pauls writings have already been provided.

It is important to recognise that the basis harks back to the history of God providing for His people - commencing with manna in the desert wandering, through to the feeding of 5,000, on to Christ giving himself in the bread of life discourse and post resurrection, to the followers recognition of Him (Jesus) at the breaking of bread.

The early church starting with the Apostles finally understood what Christ meant, grasped its significance and following His instruction, instituted our elevation into His presence at the eternal “Paschal Meal/Sacrifice” for our salvation and eternal life. He continually feeds us for all time.

The early Church increasingly appreciated the holy and intimate nature of this institution and in their “Holy Traditions” gave it the respect, ceremony and importance it commanded. It grew into what we recognise as the “Mass” today. The developed Catholic doctrine is based on Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. Attested to in all of Christian history.

I will conclude that I am neither a scripture scholar nor a catholic apologist. Just a simple believer who has had to learn along the way 🙂 (I am sure there are CAF apologists who have explained this much better elsewhere on this site if you search for it)

Hope this helps and God bless
 
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Thanks, there seems to be different opinions on when the first Mass was. The Road to Emmaus is an inspirational passage, and I especially like how Jesus points to Scriptures, as they talk about Him. But I’m struggling with the connection to Mass, as it is performed today.
 
I haven’t read any thoughts on sola scriptura… so, you wouldn’t be jumping to any conclusions…?

You say the references in Acts and Paul’s writings have been provided… I don’t see them in this string…

You mention that the Catholic doctrine is based on Holy Scripture, but you’re not a scripture scholar… so, how do you know Catholic doctrine and Scripture are connected…? Just curious…

Thanks for sharing…!
 
Thanks for Sharing…! I’m still looking for that NT connection that supports the elements of the Mass, such as transubstantiation… the Mortal sin if the Mass is missed… etc…
 
Just referred to a posture in the query - no jumping to conclusions 🙂

Some scripture references: John 6:54-57, 1 Corinthians 11:26, Acts 2:42-43,1 Corinthians 10:17, John 6:48-50. I’m sure there are many others.

"…how do you know Catholic doctrine and Scripture are connected…? "
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is fully cross referenced to Scripture. An on-line version can be found here: Catechism of the Catholic Church
 
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Yes, they did eat. Christ was instituting the New Law, the New Covenant at that moment. Rabinical law became outdated.
 
4Him said:
but other than breaking bread together, the church in the book of Acts and in the remaining NT, I don’t see anything similar to a Catholic Mass celebrated, such as the re-sacrificing of Jesus at each gathering
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Technically you’re talking about the same thing. Breaking of the bread is literally bringing that moment into the present.

Probably a good idea to reflect on the Old Testament. That’s thousands of years God telling His people how to worship Him.

Jesus said he came to perfect the law, not abolish it. So the sacrifices God asks for hasn’t been done away with, they’ve been perfected.

Like Jesus, we offer ourselves (not animals) to God in the Mass. He gives us Himself in return through the Eucharist.

Whenever you get a chance, read through the Eucharist prayers. Try to see them through Jesus in fulfillment of the Old Testament.
 
4Him said:
Council of Trent, 13th Session, Canon I : “(the Eucharist) is truly, really and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ .” Catholic Mass is the “ unbloody sacrifice” of Jesus."
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Right. The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus – but present in sacramental mode and not the normal mode of human bodies. That, itself, doesn’t equate to “re-sacrificing”.
4Him said:
Catholic Mass is the “ unbloody sacrifice” of Jesus."
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This means that we aren’t re-sacrificing Jesus – that is, killing him all over again. What it does mean is that we are offering a remembrance – as Jesus explicitly asked us to do! – and one that re-presents Jesus’ offering of self to the Father for our salvation. Do we kill Him all over again? Nope. Do we honor and memorialize this sacrifice, and make it present to the Father. After all, we’re called as “a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
4Him said:
"The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice
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Right. We are not offering something different, but the same thing differently. As you quoted, " the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner." Jesus wishes us to memorialize His sacrifice. We do that.
4Him said:
But no one ate Jesus… and that would have violated Levitical and Rabinic law…
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And so, you would have been one of those followers of Jesus who left Him, when he preached what we find written in John 6?
4Him said:
But I’m struggling with the connection to Mass, as it is performed today.
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OK. Fair enough. Is the struggle with what the Mass is, or its particular rubrics and prayers today?
4Him said:
You mention that the Catholic doctrine is based on Holy Scripture
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Actually, it’s based on two sources: Apostolic teaching and Scripture.
4Him said:
but you’re not a scripture scholar… so, how do you know Catholic doctrine and Scripture are connected…?
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Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Better yet, look at all the footnotes which support the teachings therein on Scriptural verses.
 
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4Him said:
I’m still looking for that NT connection that supports the elements of the Mass, such as transubstantiation… the Mortal sin if the Mass is missed… etc…
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  • The elements of the Mass are found in Scripture (see Paul’s description) as well as other contemporaneous accounts.
  • “Transubstantiation” is an explanation of how the Eucharist is the Eucharist. It wasn’t asked as a question during the time of the early Church found in the Bible, so it’s unfair to require it to be found in Scripture. (Would it be fair of me to ask you “where do you find ‘leaving the Church that Christ founded and creating your own church with its own divergent doctrines’ in the NT?”).
  • The notion of the requirement to participate in the Mass is found in the authority of the Church to set discipline, not to mention the commandment to “keep holy” the Lord’s day.
 
4Him said:
You mention that the Catholic doctrine is based on Holy Scripture, but you’re not a scripture scholar… so, how do you know Catholic doctrine and Scripture are connected…? Just curious…
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Catholic doctrine is not based on Holy Scripture. But it is entirely biblical. The roots of Christianity is in the Jewish tradition. That tradition produced the Old Testament. Similarly, the Catholic Tradition produced the New Testament.

If you remember Jesus at the beginning of His ministry reading Isaiah in the synagogue & saying, “This prophecy has been fulfilled in your hearing.” That’s what they did back then. Get together on the Sabbath & share the Word of God.

Well, the first Christians were Jews & they did the same thing. They began reading the Gospels, Paul, Peter, James, etc…

Many different churches had many different collections of “new” texts they would read & teach from. In the 4th century the bishops got together & decided which writings expressed truth, & which ones didn’t. Which writings should continue to be used & which ones shouldn’t. Those writings became what we know now as the Bible.

Our Mass has evolved from the Jewish synagogue & temple worship. Nowhere in the Bible are the Jewish people told to go to synagogue on the Sabbath to share the Law & the Prophets, but we know that they did.

They are told explicitly to offer sacrifice. They are told explicitly how to do so.
 
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