A Short History of the Roman Mass
Published by TAN Books
Overview
A Short History of the Roman Mass delivers a clear and authoritative account of how the Church’s central act of worship developed from the Last Supper into the Roman Rite handed down through the centuries. This is not a speculative history. It is a grounded explanation of continuity, showing how the Mass has been received, preserved, and safeguarded within the life of the Church.
Against the modern assumption that liturgy is something constructed or reinvented, this work demonstrates that the Mass grew organically. The great reforms of figures like St. Gregory the Great and St. Pius V did not create something new. They clarified and protected what had already been received. What emerges is a vision of the Mass not as a product of history, but as a living inheritance.
With precision and accessibility, the book traces the formation of the Roman Mass, the emergence of Low Mass, the role of the Sacramentaries, and the relationship between the Roman Rite and other Western liturgical traditions. It equips the reader with clarity at a time when confusion about the liturgy is widespread.
What This Book Offers:
- Historical Clarity: Understand how the Mass developed without rupture or reinvention.
- Defense of Tradition: See how authentic reform preserves rather than replaces.
- Liturgical Confidence: Gain a grounded understanding of the Roman Rite.
- Accessible Scholarship: Serious content presented with clarity and precision.
- Trace the Origins: Follow the development of the Mass from the Last Supper to its traditional form.
- Understand Reform Correctly: Learn how the Church preserves what she receives.
- Clarify Misconceptions: See why the Mass was not “created” in later centuries.
- Study Liturgical Structure: Explore Low Mass, Sacramentaries, and ritual development.
- See the Bigger Picture: Understand how the Roman Rite relates to other Western traditions.
From the Book
The reforms of the great pontiffs did not create a new liturgy, but refined and safeguarded a sacred inheritance already received.
Intended Audience
This book is ideal for clergy, seminarians, catechists, and lay faithful seeking a clear and historically grounded understanding of the Roman Mass.
It is not a devotional text, but a concise and accessible study designed to clarify questions surrounding liturgical development and continuity.
Practical use cases include parish study groups, seminary formation, apologetics, and serious personal reading.
FAQs
Was the Roman Mass created in the sixteenth century?
No. This book shows that the Mass predates those reforms by centuries; St. Pius V codified what already existed.
Does the book explain Low Mass and other rites?
Yes. It covers the development of Low Mass, the Sacramentaries, and the broader Western liturgical tradition.
Is this accessible to non-experts?
Yes. It is written for clarity without sacrificing historical accuracy.
Key Themes
- Development of the Roman Mass: Organic growth rooted in apostolic worship.
- Continuity in Tradition: Authentic reform preserves what is received.
- Authority of the Church: Safeguarding the liturgy across centuries.
- Liturgical Structure: Understanding Low Mass and ritual development.
- Unity of Western Rites: The broader context of Catholic worship.
- Author:
- Michael Davies
- Imprint:
- TAN Books
- Pages:
- 63
- Publication Date:
- 2/1/1997
- Product Format:
- Booklet
- Height:
- 6.00
- Width:
- 3.75
1 Review
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Short History of the Roman Mass
Just Fr. Faber's description of the Roman Mass on page 45 is worth the purchase.!!!!
