The Catholic Mass is diverse, but still centered around the Eucharist, said Bishop Lennon during the second installment of a four-part series on the Eucharist.
In the early development of the Catholic Church, the migration of Catholic disciples resulted in five cities becoming significant centers of Christianity; Jerusalem, Alexandria, Antioch, Rome, and Constantinople. Each of these centers practiced the same faith, but without printing presses, telephones, and the internet the Catholics in each center could not mass communicate in an organized fashion, which resulted in different prayers accompanying the same format of mass.
The format of the Mass originated from the ancient Jewish ritual of breaking bread. Catholics remained faithful to this Jewish tradition, but added the key phrases ?This is My Body?This is My Blood? instilling the element of the Eucharist. And just as the Church developed from its Jewish roots, as the years past and discipleship grew, the Church continued to evolve.
Different subdivisions of the Catholic Church branched from each of these five centers. The Diocese of Cleveland shows this evolution of diversity. Bishop explained that this diversity does not change the faith of each subdivision; all are Catholic.
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Bishop added that the Catholic Mass is said in many different ways, all of which are legitimate, and the diversity within our Church reflects the humanity that has accepted Jesus Christ in their lives.
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Bishop Lennon?s next segment of this four part series on the Eucharist will be on Wednesday July 9th following the Noon Mass in St. John?s Cathedral.
For the first installment in the series, read ?The Very Heart of Our Catholic Life?.
