The earliest documentation of the Liturgies of the Eucharist and the Word co-joined is found in the First Apology written by St Justin Martyr in 150 AD. The liturgy that St Justin describes is so like our own as to be astonishing. It clearly includes the Offertory, Preface and Canon, Great Amen and Holy Communion.
"No one may share in
the Eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he
is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins,
and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by
Christ.
We do not consume the
Eucharistic bread and wine as if it were ordinary food and
drink, for we have been
taught that as Jesus Christ our Savior became a man of flesh and blood by the
power of the Word of God, so also the food that our flesh and blood assimilates
for its nourishment becomes the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus by the
power of his own words contained in the prayer of
thanksgiving.
The apostles, in their
recollections, which are called gospels,handed down to us
what Jesus commanded them to do. They tell us that He took bread, gave thanks
and said: Do this in memory of Me. This is My
body. In
the same way He took the cup, He gave thanks and said: This
is My blood. The Lord gave this command to them
alone. Ever since then we have constantly reminded one another of these things.
The rich among us help the poor and we are always united. For all that we
receive we praise the Creator of the universe through His Son Jesus Christ and
through the Holy Spirit.
On
Sunday we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the
city or in the outlying districts. The recollections of the apostles or the
writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time. When the reader has
finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us; he urges everyone to
imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings. Then we all stand
up together and
pray.
On the
conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought
forward. The president offers prayers and gives
thanks to the best of his ability, and the people give their assent by saying,
"Amen." The Eucharist is distributed, everyone present communicates, and the
deacons take it to those who are
absent.
The wealthy, if they wish, may make
a contribution, and they themselves decide the amount. The collection is placed in the
custody of the president, who uses it to help the orphans and widows and all who
for any reason are in distress, whether because they are sick, in prison, or
away from home. In a word, he takes care of all who are in
need.
We hold our common
assembly on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the day on which God
put darkness and chaos to flight and created the
world, and because on that same day our savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
For He was crucified on Friday and on Sunday He appeared to His apostles and
disciples and taught them the things that we have passed on for your consideration."
St.
Justin
100
AD - 165 AD
Philosopher
and Martyr
Masterful
Lay apologist, writer
FEAST
DAY - June 1
Image above: Chapel of St Ananias, Damascus, Syria (1st century)
St
Justin, pray for us!
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