Topical Encyclopedia The term "Mass" is not directly found in the Bible; however, it is a central liturgical practice in many Christian traditions, particularly within Roman Catholicism, where it refers to the celebration of the Eucharist. The Mass is considered a re-presentation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, commemorating the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist.Biblical Foundations The roots of the Mass can be traced to the Last Supper, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels and 1 Corinthians. During this meal, Jesus took bread and wine, giving thanks and sharing them with His disciples, saying, "This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19). Similarly, He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20). These words form the basis for the Eucharistic celebration in the Mass. The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of the Eucharist in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 , where he recounts the institution of the Lord's Supper and instructs believers to partake in it in remembrance of Christ, proclaiming His death until He comes. Theological Significance The Mass is viewed as both a sacrifice and a meal. The sacrificial aspect is rooted in the belief that the Mass makes present the one sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. Hebrews 9:24-26 speaks of Christ entering "heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf," highlighting the eternal nature of His sacrifice. The Mass is seen as a participation in this heavenly reality. As a meal, the Mass is a communal act of worship, reflecting the early Christian gatherings described in Acts 2:42 , where believers devoted themselves to "the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." The communal aspect underscores the unity of believers as the Body of Christ, as articulated in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 : "Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf." Liturgical Elements The structure of the Mass typically includes several key components: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Word involves readings from Scripture, a homily, and prayers of the faithful, reflecting the early Christian practice of reading and expounding upon the Scriptures (Acts 13:15). The Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the presentation of the gifts, the Eucharistic Prayer, the consecration of the bread and wine, and the distribution of Holy Communion. Historical Development The development of the Mass as a formal liturgical practice evolved over the centuries. Early Christian worship was characterized by simplicity, often taking place in homes. As Christianity became more established, the liturgy became more structured, incorporating elements from Jewish worship and adapting to various cultural contexts. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) played a significant role in defining the Roman Catholic understanding of the Mass, particularly in response to the Protestant Reformation. The council affirmed the sacrificial nature of the Mass and the doctrine of transubstantiation, which holds that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ. Contemporary Practice Today, the Mass remains a vital expression of faith for millions of Christians worldwide. While the Roman Catholic Church maintains a specific liturgical form, other Christian denominations, such as the Anglican and Lutheran traditions, also celebrate the Eucharist, though with varying theological interpretations and liturgical practices. In summary, while the term "Mass" is not explicitly found in Scripture, its theological and liturgical foundations are deeply rooted in biblical teachings and the early Christian tradition. The Mass continues to be a profound expression of worship, embodying the mystery of Christ's sacrifice and the unity of His followers. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) The sacrifice in the sacrament of the Eucharist, or the consecration and oblation of the host.2. (n.) The portions of the Mass usually set to music, considered as a musical composition; -- namely, the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei, besides sometimes an Offertory and the Benedictus. 3. (v. i.) To celebrate Mass. 4. (n.) A quantity of matter cohering together so as to make one body, or an aggregation of particles or things which collectively make one body or quantity, usually of considerable size; as, a mass of ore, metal, sand, or water. 5. (n.) A medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump, of consistency suitable for making pills; as, blue mass. 6. (n.) A large quantity; a sum. 7. (n.) Bulk; magnitude; body; size. 8. (n.) The principal part; the main body. 9. (n.) The quantity of matter which a body contains, irrespective of its bulk or volume. 10. (v. t.) To form or collect into a mass; to form into a collective body; to bring together into masses; to assemble. Greek 4073. petra -- a (large mass of) rock ... a (large mass of) rock. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: petra Phonetic Spelling: (pet'-ra) Short Definition: rock Definition: a rock, ledge ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4073.htm - 7k 3509. nephos -- a mass of clouds, a cloud 5445. phurama -- that which is mixed 3591. ogkos -- bulk, an encumbrance 3831. paneguris -- a festal assembly 4686. speira -- anything wound up or coiled, by ext. a body (of ... 4787. sugkineo -- to move together, fig. to stir up Strong's Hebrew 2841. chashrah -- collection, mass... 2840, 2841. chashrah. 2842 . collection, mass. Transliteration: chashrah Phonetic Spelling: (khash-raw') Short Definition: mass. ... /hebrew/2841.htm - 6k 3514. kobed -- heaviness, mass 4168. moqed -- a burning mass 6051. anan -- a cloud mass, cloud 4723b. miqveh -- a collection, collected mass 5645. ab -- dark cloud, cloud mass, thicket 1487. gush -- a clod, lump 4165. mutsaq -- a casting 7230. rob -- multitude, abundance, greatness 1564. golem -- an embryo Library Of the Mass. Whether the Mass of a Sinful Priest is of Less Worth than the Mass ... Of the Term Mass. The Mass On the Sacrifice of the Mass Of the Mass for the Dead. The Following Prayers are from the Mass for the Saint. On the Popish Mass The Requiem Mass The Mass of the Angels Thesaurus Mass (65 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) The portions of the Mass usually set to music, considered as a musical composition; -- namely, the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus, and the ... /m/mass.htm - 27k Cake (25 Occurrences) Lump (7 Occurrences) Individual (12 Occurrences) Mankind (80 Occurrences) Pile (16 Occurrences) Leaven (24 Occurrences) Weight (143 Occurrences) Rubble (17 Occurrences) Clod (1 Occurrence) Resources How should Christians view weapons of mass destruction / nuclear weapons? | GotQuestions.orgShould a non-Catholic Christian participate in a Catholic Mass? | GotQuestions.org What is the Catholic sacrament of Holy Eucharist? | GotQuestions.org Mass: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Mass (65 Occurrences)Matthew 8:18 Matthew 13:33 Matthew 15:32 Matthew 27:13 Mark 6:34 Mark 8:1 Mark 8:34 Mark 9:14 Mark 12:37 Luke 5:19 Luke 7:9 Luke 13:2 Luke 23:18 John 7:12 Acts 21:36 Romans 5:15 Romans 5:19 Romans 11:16 Romans 11:25 1 Corinthians 5:6 1 Corinthians 5:7 2 Corinthians 9:2 Galatians 5:9 Hebrews 6:8 Joshua 3:13 Joshua 3:16 Joshua 6:9 Joshua 6:13 Joshua 7:21 Joshua 7:24 Joshua 7:26 Joshua 8:28 Joshua 8:29 Judges 14:8 Ruth 3:7 1 Samuel 30:16 2 Samuel 18:17 2 Samuel 22:12 1 Kings 9:8 2 Chronicles 7:21 Job 16:10 Job 22:11 Job 38:38 Psalms 33:7 Psalms 79:1 Isaiah 1:6 Isaiah 25:2 Isaiah 64:9 Jeremiah 9:11 Jeremiah 26:18 Jeremiah 50:26 Jeremiah 51:37 Jeremiah 51:42 Ezekiel 19:11 Ezekiel 24:9 Ezekiel 30:15 Ezekiel 31:9 Daniel 11:33 Daniel 11:39 Joel 2:16 Micah 3:12 Micah 5:7 Micah 5:8 Nahum 3:3 Habakkuk 3:15 Subtopics Related Terms |
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