The word ‘Liturgy’ originally came from several words utilized in the Hebrew service of God in the sanctuary of the temple and a Greek word meaning ‘public service’ which usually referred to the discharge of a religious service which was performed after a payment by the rich citizens of Athens.
Liturgy in Catholicism
The Greek word for such service is found nowhere in the New Testament, but words indicating the performance of services performed by the Christian Clergy are indicated in the Book of Acts. Acts 13:2 states in English “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted” and has been regarded by scholars as first references to acts of worship and preaching by the prophets and teachers of the faith to come.
The Liturgy of the Word
Liturgy means ‘The Meaning of the Word’ in part because if you attend Holy Mass daily for three years, you will hear the entirety of the Old and New Testament Scripture read, and these readings of scripture are considered to be the integral part of Liturgy. In the Liturgy of the Word an Old Testament Scripture is read, a New Testament Scripture (but not a Gospel) is read, i.e. from the letters, etc., and then the priest will read the Gospel reading for that day’s liturgical celebration.
Other Parts of the Modern Liturgy
The Holy Mass begins with a procession carrying the holy Gospels to the altar. The Liturgy of the Word, previously described, then follows. After the Gospel reading, the priest will present a homily which is very much like a sermon, or a ‘reflection’ on the readings of the day. In Latin, this portion of the Holy Mass is considered the ‘Missa Catechumenorum’ and ‘Missa Fidelium.’
A prayer for penitents usually follows and then the altar is covered with cloths. The priest's hands are washed, the hosts and chalice containing wine are presented while the priest follows with a series of consecratory prayers which altogether are known as the Eucharistic Prayer.
Bishop Fulton Sheen helped write a book with Henri Daniel-Rops of Thirty Steps in the Holy Mass before Vatican II.
When Liturgy was Recognized
It wasn’t actually until the 4th century A.D. that the word Liturgy became utilized and recognized as the official term for the services of the church. This was done in the Council Ancrya in 314 A.D., shortly before the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. which defined many of the doctrines of the church. In the 6th century, the word Liturgy became officially recognized to deem any solemn service of the Universal Church including the Holy Mass, Evening Prayer, Baptisms, Confirmation, Ordinations, etc. But over the many centuries since, the Liturgy has been associated primarily with the Eucharistic Celebration of the Holy Mass.
Different Forms of Liturgy
Adopted by the Greek and Eastern Orthodox Churches, it is referred to as the ‘Divine Liturgy. In the Latin Liturgy, it is referred to as the ‘Holy Mass.’ And the term of liturgy in modern day refers to any celebration of the Eucharistic in the world in any language.
Early Church Fathers' Usage of the Word Liturgy
In the Writings of the Early Church Fathers, common wording used for the sacrifice of the Holy Mass were ‘sacrifice,’ ‘offering’ and ‘bloodless and rational sacrifice.’ It was St. Ambrose who first used the word ‘Mass.’
It is only from the year 150 A.D. and onward that there is specific and proven documentation of how the Holy Mass was celebrated. There is no documentation to show how the actual Apostles of the Lord celebrated this sacred ritual in their own time. In the documentation from 15 A.D. onward, the Holy Mass was given very early on the designation of the most holy and greatest of all sacraments.
In the beginning, the Mass was only said by bishops. Priests were only allowed to say Mass in the absence of a bishop, but that changed shortly around 138 A.D. as the first Apology was written to make the celebration of the Mass Universal around the world in Latin.
Sources: A Catholic Dictionary – By William Addis, This is the Mass – By Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
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