Mass' Liturgy Of The Word Has Deep Roots

When we listen to the proclamation of God’s Word in the Liturgy of the Word, we take part in a structure of worship whose roots are found deep in Judaism.  It was the form of worship also used in the synagogue during Jesus’ earthly life (see Luke 4:16) and practiced by the early Christians.

As we saw several weeks ago, St. Justin Martyr provided us with the earliest account of the Sunday Liturgy of the Word with a pattern similar to the ritual first created during the Babylonian Exile – with the change that the readings now came from the Apostles’ Letters and the Gospel. Occasionally the Prophets were also proclaimed while readings from the Torah were dropped. We must remember that the Church’s rituals evolved over time.

In the Apostolic Constitutions (375 A.D.) we find directions regarding the liturgy most likely followed in the Church of Antioch, Syria.  Within a span of slightly more than 200 years, we now find four readings in Sunday worship: a return to the Jewish Torah, the Prophets, the writings of the Apostles, and the Gospel followed by a homily. 

In the Gallican Mass (modern day France), the Liturgy of the Word consisted of three readings:  the first from Hebrew Scriptures, the second from the Acts of the Apostles or the Apostles’ Letters, concluding with the Gospel and homily.  There was great flexibility in the order of worship in the various local churches, which continued more or less until the Council of Trent (1545-1563), following the Protestant Reformation.   

We must always remember that the leaders or members of the various local Churches (e.g. Rome, Alexandria in Egypt, Milan, Spain, France, etc.) visited each other.  Observing how the liturgy was celebrated in these various churches, they would return and often implement new customs into their worship.  “Unity” did not mean “uniformity” in the early Church.  Uniformity emerged over time due to the threat of heresy. To safeguard the true faith, priests were no longer permitted to pray in their own words, and more directives were given for the celebration of the Mass. 

As the Church in Rome gradually grew in prestige, the other local Churches looked to Rome for models for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Church Liturgical Year.  (This knowledge of liturgical development in the Roman Church has always provided me with a greater acceptance when changes occur today.  The Church is not a “rigid” church of rules and regulations, but always strives to serve the peoples’ needs in every generation.  This was the reason for Pope John XXIII convoking the Second Vatican Council.)

Let’s look at the Liturgy of the Word prior to Vatican II, the structure of which was well regulated in the Missal of Pope Pius V following the Council of Trent (1545-1563), due to the Protestant Reformation of Martin Luther.

The Liturgy of the Word maintained the ritual structure of previous centuries.  The priest first read or sang the epistle and gospel in Latin at the altar.   Then, as was customary in the U.S. and other countries, the priest went to the pulpit and read the Epistle and Gospel in the native language followed by the sermon and Profession of Faith.  The Prayers of the Faithful were no longer offered in the Roman Liturgy except on Good Friday when the Intercessions were chanted.

Father Sauer continues his series on the Mass in the Oct. 21 issue of The Message.