The History of the Catholic Mass: The Evolution of the Church’s Most Vital Celebration

Podcast-style audio course - 12 Topics
Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
Boston College
(8 customer reviews)
Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
Includes Free Study Guide
Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
Audio Sample:

From Fr. John Balodvin, S.J., heralded as one of the world’s leading liturgy scholars. Award-winning Boston College professor.

How did the first Christians celebrate their faith? Why have Catholicism’s most cherished traditions evolved since then?

In 12 eye-opening lectures, you will take a riveting journey through the history of the Catholic faith’s most vital celebration.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist has deep roots in tradition. But the Mass has also enjoyed a dynamic history over the centuries. As you will discover, its ongoing evolution reflects the ever-changing world and Christ’s presence in it.

Like many inquisitive Catholics, you probably have questions about this powerful celebration. Now, you’ll find enlightening answers in this series. Under the tutelage of Boston College’s Father John Baldovin, one of America’s leading liturgical scholars, you’ll study how the first Christians celebrated the Mass, why it has changed over time, and which practices have remained constant.

Along the way, you will find a wealth of insights into wider Church history and the cultural developments that shaped current practices. This series is perfect for anyone—especially groups—interested i

From Fr. John Balodvin, S.J., heralded as one of the world’s leading liturgy scholars. Award-winning Boston College professor.

How did the first Christians celebrate their faith? Why have Catholicism’s most cherished traditions evolved since then?

In 12 eye-opening lectures, you will take a riveting journey through the history of the Catholic faith’s most vital celebration.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist has deep roots in tradition. But the Mass has also enjoyed a dynamic history over the centuries. As you will discover, its ongoing evolution reflects the ever-changing world and Christ’s presence in it.

Like many inquisitive Catholics, you probably have questions about this powerful celebration. Now, you’ll find enlightening answers in this series. Under the tutelage of Boston College’s Father John Baldovin, one of America’s leading liturgical scholars, you’ll study how the first Christians celebrated the Mass, why it has changed over time, and which practices have remained constant.

Along the way, you will find a wealth of insights into wider Church history and the cultural developments that shaped current practices. This series is perfect for anyone—especially groups—interested in gaining a deeper understanding of theology and liturgical practices.

Each time we celebrate the Mass, we honor Christ’s command to “do this in memory of me.” Now is your chance to explore the history of the liturgy—the marvelous story of the Church’s obedience to that command.


This course was previously published as Understanding the History of the Mass

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Fr. John F. Baldovin, S.J., Ph.D., is Professor of Historical and Liturgical Theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross, an M.Div. from Weston School of Theology, and an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Yale University. A leading expert on the Mass, Fr. Baldovin has been teaching for twenty-eight years. He is past president of the North American Academy of Liturgy, the international ecumenical Societas Liturgica, and the International Jungmann Society for Jesuits and the Liturgy.

He is the author of several books, including Bread of Life, Cup of Salvation: Understanding the Mass (Rowman and Littlefield, 2003) and Reforming the Liturgy: A Response to the Critics (Liturgical Press, 2008), and he is the co-editor of Commentary on the Order of Mass of the Roman Missal (Liturgical Press, 2011).

Praise for John Baldovin, S.J.

“Fr. John Baldovin, SJ, is a first-rate liturgical scholar and an excellent teacher… As a committed Vatican II Catholic with an ecumenical sensitivity, there is no one better than he to lead us through and into the Eucharistic source and summit of the Christian Faith.” –The Rev. Maxwell E. Johnson, PhD., University of Notre Dame

“With a keen grasp of liturgical history and a profound love for the Church, Fr. John Baldovin’s scholarly work and masterful teaching faithfully address some of the more contested ecclesial issues of our time and open up the iconic depths of worship ‘in spirit and in truth’ for a contemporary age.” –Fr. Paul A. Janowiak, S.J., Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara (Berkeley)

  • Why Study the History of the Liturgy?
  • The Earliest Liturgies in the Didache and Justin Martyr
  • The Beginnings of the Eucharistic Prayer
  • The Development of the Entrance Rites and the Liturgy of the Word
  • The Classic Eucharistic Prayers
  • The Byzantine Liturgy
  • The Roman Mass in the Middle Ages, Part I: Liturgy of the Word
  • The Roman Mass in the Middle Ages, Part II: Liturgy of the Eucharist
  • The Roman Mass in the Middle Ages, Part III: Medieval Developments in the Mass
  • The Mass and the Protestant Reformation
  • The Mass in the English Reformation, the Free Church Tradition, and the Roman Catholic Response to the Protestant Reforms
  • Liturgical Reform from the Eighteenth Century to the Present

8 reviews for The History of the Catholic Mass: The Evolution of the Church’s Most Vital Celebration

  1. John H., WV

    Provides a solid grounding

    Provides a solid grounding in the basic tenets of this feature of the faith.

  2. Dr. Richard Z., MI

    Winter Survey: January 2017

    Clear and interesting overview of the subject

  3. Fr. Kevin M., AL

    2017 Christmas Survey

    There is a lot I didn’t know about the history of the Mass. Fr. Baldovin makes it clear where the Mass has come from, and likely where it is going in the future.

  4. Father Mike V., TX

    2017 Christmas Survey

    For me as a priest it improved my celebration of the liturgy

  5. Rev. Kevin M., O.S.B.

    2018 Spring Survey

    This presentation helped me understand how the Mass developed over the centuries, and helped me appreciate our liturgy.

  6. Maria, NC

    2018 Spring Survey

    This series describes the originals of our most sacred prayers from early Christianity. It provides multiple points of reference for further study.

  7. GE, MDiv

    Comprehensive Study of Christian Liturgy

    Fr. Baldovin’s Understanding the History of the Mass provides a detailed and comprehensive look at the development of Christian liturgy from the 1st century to just before the Second Vatican Council. This course is a good introductory foundation for Fr. Baldovin’s other Now You Know Media courses on the liturgy.

  8. Douglas C., NY

    Summer 2018 Survey

    This course provided a accurate historical perspective on the evolvement of Mass and it

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