Keeping Sunday holy by sharing in the Eucharist (historical view) Cover Image

Świętowanie niedzieli przez udział w Eucharystii (panorama historyczna)
Keeping Sunday holy by sharing in the Eucharist (historical view)

Author(s): Jarosław A. Superson SAC
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion, History of Religion
Published by: Polskie Towarzystwo Teologiczne
Keywords: The Eucharist; Sunday; the time of a celebration of the Sunday Eucharist;

Summary/Abstract: Analyzing the heritage of Christianity, we see that since the very beginning, Sunday, the first day of the week, has always been the day of common Church gathering to celebrate the Eucharist. In the very beginning, as pointed by Tertullian, the celebration took place at night because of the precessions. Night or dawn gave more privacy and security. After the Edict of Milan it became a custom that a Mass should be celebrated after three o’clock, or at night, if they fell around so-called Quattro Tempora. In the middle ages it was believed that any time of the day is good to celebrate the Eucharist, but missa conventualis et sollemnis in hora Tertia. After the Council of Trent the time of the main Sunday Eucharist – summa – was determined by the bishop and in Poland it was at 10.00 AM. Often before this Mass was a Mass primaria celebrated.

  • Issue Year: 62/2009
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 165-182
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish