Posted on 06/01/2021 7:45:34 PM PDT by MurphsLaw
Jesus commanded the 12 Apostles at the Last Supper to "Do this in remembrance of me." The "this" is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass . . . i.e. the Catholic Mass, also called the Divine Liturgy for Eastern Rite Catholics.
When Christianity was new, misunderstood, and outlawed, St. Justin Martyr, a philosopher and Christian convert, took it upon himself to give a powerful defense of Christian doctrine and practice before the secular power, arguing that Christians should not be persecuted. Enshrined in his defense, or Apology, is one of the earliest descriptions of the Catholic Mass.
Today many non-Catholic Christians claim that the Mass is not biblical, and deny that it was the belief and practice of the early Church. But Justin Martyr explained the Mass in its essence—taught by Christ and handed down to his Apostles—in the mid-second century, which continues today just as it always has since the Last Supper. He also gave one of the earliest descriptions of how the bread and wine consecrated at Mass becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. For those who deny the Holy Eucharist, the account of St. Justin Martyr is undeniable proof that this has always been the belief of the Church.
St. Justin was a renown evangelist/philosopher/apologist who was famous for winning debates with pagan philosophers. He was eventually tortured and executed by the Roman authorities for his Catholic faith. From just a few short paragraphs of his account (which is consistent with the ‘unanimous consent’ of the other early Church fathers), it was apparent that these early Christians:
Believed that baptism had a regenerating effect and remitted sins All gathered regularly each Sunday to commemorating the day of Christ’s resurrection Celebrated a liturgy (organized public service) lead by a ‘president’ that included both the teaching of the
Scriptures and the sharing in what they called ‘the Eucharist’ every single week Did not treat the Eucharistic bread and wine like ordinary food and drink, since the bread and wine “becomes the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus by the power of his own words contained in the prayer of thanksgiving” (Eucharist means ‘thanksgiving’).
Practiced closed communion (only those who united in the same beliefs were welcome to partake)
Required one to live in accordance with the principles of Christ to receive communion (be in what we now call a ‘state of grace’)
Believed that Jesus Christ taught them that they were to worship in this manner through his apostles and eye-witness
disciples (these were no mere ‘traditions of men,’ but traditions of the ‘God-man’)
Don’t just take my word for it, read it:
JustinMartyrFrom the First Apology of St. Justin Martyr, c. 155 AD
" No one may share 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.
We 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 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 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.“
It is worth noting that he was describing the practice of the Church in Rome, which was regarded as the center of the civilized world, and was already holding a place of prominence in decision-making within the whole Church (as described in the writings of early Church fathers St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Clement of Rome). This Church was violently persecuted by the pagan Roman government of the time, and the reason wasn’t because they were stealing those pesky ‘pagan rituals’ ;-)
The Didache
CHAPTER 7
Baptism
1 Concerning baptism, baptise thus: Having first rehearsed all these things, “baptise, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” in running water; 2 but if thou hast no running water, baptise in other water, and if thou canst not in cold, then in warm. 3 But if thou hast neither, pour water three times on the head “in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” 4 And before the baptism let the baptiser and him who is to be baptised fast, and any others who are able. And thou shalt bid him who is to be baptised to fast one or two days before.
CHAPTER 8
Fasting — Prayers
1 Let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for they fast on Mondays and Thursdays, but do you fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.
2 And do not pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in his Gospel, pray thus: “Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, as in Heaven so also upon earth; give us to-day our daily bread, and forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the Evil One, for thine is the power and the glory for ever.” 3 Pray thus three times a day.
CHAPTER 9
The Eucharist — The Cup — The Bread
1 And concerning the Eucharist, hold Eucharist thus: 2 First concerning the Cup, “We give thanks to thee, our Father, for the Holy Vine of David thy child, which, thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy child; to thee be glory for ever.”
3 And concerning the broken Bread: “We give thee thanks, our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy Child. To thee be glory for ever.
4 As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains, but was brought together and became one, so let thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into thy Kingdom, for thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever.”
5 But let none eat or drink of your Eucharist except those who have been baptised in the Lord’s Name. For concerning this also did the Lord say, “Give not that which is holy to the dogs.”
CHAPTER 10
The final prayer in the Eucharist
1 But after you are satisfied with food, thus give thanks: 2 “We give thanks to thee, O Holy Father, for thy Holy Name which thou didst make to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy Child. To thee be glory for ever. 3 Thou, Lord Almighty, didst create all things for thy Name’s sake, and didst give food and drink to men for their enjoyment, that they might give thanks to thee, but us hast thou blessed with spiritual food and drink and eternal light through thy Child. 4 Above all we give thanks to thee for that thou art mighty. To thee be glory for ever.
5 Remember, Lord, thy Church, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in thy love, and gather it together in its holiness from the four winds to thy kingdom which thou hast prepared for it. For thine is the power and the glory for ever. 6 Let grace come and let this world pass away. Hosannah to the God of David. If any man be holy, let him come! if any man be not, let him repent: Maran atha, Amen.”
7 But suffer the prophets to hold Eucharist as they will.
8 — none —
“Roman Catholics” refers to members of the Church of Rome under the Pope, i.e. not Protestants.
Don’t be ignorant - Dude.
Not sure why you are posting this to me Cronos.
I find the Didache to not be a credible source - meaning it had a Jewish history, was altered to be a Christian document - and likely altered throughout the centuries. And then there are other issues.
This has been discussed a few times on FR, I don’t see any value in going into it again.
You may believe it. I simply don’t.
I’m comfortable with that.
Have a great day Cronos.
Dude, don't be ignorant
There are Latin rite Catholics, Maronite Catholics, Syro-Malabar Catholics, Chaldean Catholics etc. all in communion with the Pope
There are Orthodox who are NOT in communion with the Pope and they ain't Protestant
There are Copts, Armenians, Ethiopians, Assyrians not in communion with the Pope and they ain't Protestant
hekc, the very term "Protestant" is a misnomer - you club Oneness Pentecostals who deny the Trinity with Lutherans who believe in the True Presence of Christ's Body in the Eucharist with Adventists who say Jesus is the archangel Michael.
“i.e. not Protestant” was not an all inclusive list.
Otherwise I could and would have said: “i.e. not Protestant, Copt, Armenian, Assyrian, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and other Christians.”
You say that Latin rite Catholics, Maronite Catholics, Syro-Malabar Catholics Chaldean Catholics etc are “in communion” with the Pope. Does that mean they agree that they are under the Pope, Papal authority?
I don’t know if they would or not but if they do then they are Roman Catholic just like France, Ireland or the Phillipines.
Regardless, “Roman Catholic” refers to members of the Church of Rome, NOT to Catholics who live in Roma,Italy, dude.
Italy, Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, etc. are considered Roman Catholic countries.
Central America and South America are regions not countries. And, with the exception of the first two are considered Latin American countries. Italy and Spain are called Catholic countries, just like Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Czech republic and Hungary and the Philippines.
There are lots of Catholics in Lebanon, about 40% of the population and they are Maronite rite Catholic
You say that Latin rite Catholics, Maronite Catholics, Syro-Malabar Catholics Chaldean Catholics etc are “in communion” with the Pope. Does that mean they agree that they are under the Pope, Papal authority?
They do.
And they consider and are considered Catholics, not “Roman”
The Catholic Church is a communion of 1.3 billion Christians, organized into 24 autonomous (‘sui iuris’) Churches, all of whom are in communion with the bishop of Rome, the pope.
The Roman Church, or Church of Rome, refers to the local Church of Rome, the diocese of Rome, the immediate jurisdiction of the pope as bishop of Rome. This comprises about 3 million Catholics in the city of Rome, Italy.
Strictly speaking, then, the “Roman Catholic Church” is shorthand for “the Catholic Church in Rome” and synonymous with the Church of Rome in the same way that “American Catholic Church” is just shorthand for “the Catholic Church in the United States .
However almost nobody uses it this way. Most commonly, it is an alternative for the Latin Church, which is the largest of the 24 churches of the Catholic communion, for which the pope is its primate or patriarch. This church mostly follows the Roman Rite, which is the set of liturgical rituals that originated in the local Church of Rome and spread throughout the Latin-speaking west in the late first millennium, hence the name association.
In this case, Roman Catholic : Church of England :: Catholic : Anglican.
Some will argue that “Roman Catholic Church” can refer to the entire “Catholic Church” because the entire body is in communion with Rome - but this is simply inaccurate, as each of the 24 autonomous churches has its own name. While all Catholic, most are not “Roman” or even “Latin”. Think of the Ukrainian, the Maronite, the Melkite Catholic Churches.
Moreover, the Catholic Church does not use this terminology in this way. Every major document since about 1950 has been absolutely clear and unequivocal that the name of the whole Church is “Catholic Church”, despite a century or so prior to that of usage of “Roman” Catholic to foster ultramontanism in the face of both nationalism and conciliarism. And only the Catholic Church has any right to decide what it is called.
This would be akin to referring to the entire Anglican Communion as the Cantaurian Church, or the Church of Canterbury. Or the entire Orthodox Church as Constantinopolitan or Greek.
Most, if not all Protestant denominations profess the Nicene Creed “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.”
It is a matter of your semantics whether the catholic church is “in communion with the bishop of Rome”.
By common acknowledgment Christians who are members of the Church of Rome under the Pope, are known as Roman Catholics.
(please don’t be silly, it has been widespread knowledge for five hundred years the distinction between Roman Catholic (unless one is intentionally oblique) and those Christians not of the Church of Rome.
Or are you saying that those Christians who are not “in communion with the bishop of Rome” are not members of the one holy catholic church ?
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