But actions speak louder than words.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the celebration of the Eucharist is the fact that it has changed so little over twenty centuries. The essential elements are found in the narrative of the institution of the Eucharist as recorded in the Gospels. The liturgical structure of that celebration developed very rapidly in the early life of the Church as we see in Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1Cor.11.26)(“For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come.”) and the essential elements have remained unchanged. Even in many of the details, we find in the celebration of the liturgy today an identity with what went before us for so many centuries.
Like the Passover meal, this memorial sacrifice of the new law is both sacrifice and sacred meal. Both aspects remain inseparably a part of the same mystery. In an unbloody re- presentation of the sacrifice of the cross and in application of its saving power, the Lord is offered in the sacrifice of the Mass when through the words of consecration and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Christ is present in a sacramental form under the appearance of bread and wine to become the spiritual food of the faithful.
There is a large reservoir of evidence to show that this was a practice.
See the research on the matter found in this link
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/father/a5.html
Once one accepts the infallibility of Petrine authority, the teaching of the Eucharist as explained in the Catholic Catechism is a given.
Of course those who dispute Petrine authority then its open season on what interpretation of scripture one accepts. One is free to pick and chose an interpretation/ritual/practice/ that comports with one’s own notion of what is “true.”
**But actions speak louder than words.**
Peter’s actions in Acts still don’t help your tradition. He actively baptized both Jews and Gentiles in the name of Jesus. There is no action in Acts of him leading a ‘mass’ ritual.
**The liturgical structure of that celebration developed very rapidly in the early life of the Church as we see in Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1Cor.11.26)(“For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come.”)**
Paul also is not shown in Acts teaching and/or leading a ‘mass’ ritual.
Oh, I believe it is Godly action to show remembrance of the Lord’s death. If it was more than that, Acts would have had at least two accounts showing it to be absolutely necessary.
As far as how many centuries a practice has been done, Paul, James, Peter, and Jude all warned, in those days, of people leading others away from the traditions that the original apostles taught.
**Of course those who dispute Petrine authority..**
It’s not Peter’s authority that I question. It the ones that claim to follow his lead, while changing his tradition, that I steer clear of.