Early Christian worship
A restrained sepia plate shows an altar table, scrolls, oil lamps, and a small praying community in the background.
Generated historical illustration.
Chapter 1
Origins in Early Christian Worship
1st-4th centuries
The Mass did not appear all at once. It grew from apostolic worship: Scripture, psalmody, prayers, and the Eucharistic sacrifice offered in continuity with the Lord's command at the Last Supper.