Why do we do the same thing at mass?

[mark_a]

MeOnly:

My protestant friend asked me why we have a “script” and say the same prayers every Sunday and do the same thing all the time in unison. I didn’t know what to tell him.

Please help.

Thanks!

Some of these prayers and songs have been around nearly as long as the Church.

The Gloria, for example, was refered to by St Athanasius and the Apostolic Constitutions. It was integrated into Christmas Mass by bishops around the 6th century, and in the 8th century by priests.

Lucien Deiss wrote a great book called (you guessed it) “The Mass”. It has as much useful historical information as I have ever seen in one place.

 

[JimG]

That’s why it’s called Liturgy. It’s the public work of the Church.

Even the most extemporaneous of denominations pretty much have a set order of worship. --Opening hymn, praise, readings, homily or sermon, etc. The people attending, in other words, know what to expect–because the order of worship is the same from week to week.