Early Christian Beliefs About the Eucharist and Mass

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Direct teaching

They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not acknowledge the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, who suffered for our sins, and whom the Father, in His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, bring upon themselves death in the midst of their disputes. Yet it would be better for them to treat it with respect, so that they might also rise again. It is fitting, therefore, that you should keep away from such people, and not speak of them either in private or in public, but to pay attention to the prophets, and above all, to the Gospel, in which the passion of Christ has been revealed to us, and the resurrection has been fully proven. But avoid all divisions, as they are the beginning of evils.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Direct teaching

When, therefore, the mixed cup and the made bread receive the Word of God, and the Eucharist of the blood and body of Christ is formed, from which the substance of our flesh is grown and sustained, how can they claim that the flesh is incapable of receiving the gift of God, which is eternal life, when this flesh is nourished from the body and blood of the Lord and is a part of Him? Just as the blessed Paul states in his letter to the Ephesians, that “we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” He does not speak of some spiritual and invisible person, for a spirit does not have bones or flesh; but he is referring to the arrangement by which the Lord became an actual man, consisting of flesh, and nerves, and bones,—that flesh which is nourished by the cup that is His blood, and grows from the bread that is His body. And just as a branch from the vine planted in the ground bears fruit in its season, or as a grain of wheat falling into the earth and breaking down, rises with abundant growth by the Spirit of God, who holds all things, and then, through the wisdom of God, serves human use, and having received the Word of God, becomes the Eucharist, which is the body and

1 Corinthians 11:27 Direct teaching

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:23 Supporting witness

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

“Accordingly, God, anticipating all the sacrifices which we offer through this name, and which Jesus the Christ enjoined us to offer, i.e., in the Eucharist of the bread and the cup, and which are presented by Christians in all places throughout the world, bears witness that they are well-pleasing to Him.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

1. The oblation of the Church, therefore, which the Lord gave instructions to be offered throughout all the world, is accounted with God a pure sacrifice, and is acceptable to Him;

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Direct teaching

...name is glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place, incense is offered to my name, and a pure sacrifice;” as John also states in Revelation: “The incense is the prayers of the saints.” Furthermore, Paul urges us “to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” And again, “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips.” These offerings are not according to the law, which the Lord removed by canceling it, but are according to the Spirit, for we must worship God “in spirit and in truth.” Therefore, the offering of the Eucharist is not physical but spiritual, and in this respect, it is pure. For we offer to God the bread and the cup of blessing, thanking Him for commanding the earth to produce these fruits for our nourishment. Then, after perfecting the offering, we invoke the Holy Spirit, so that He may make this sacrifice—both the bread as the body of Christ and the cup as the blood of Christ—so that those who receive these symbols may obtain forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Those who perform these offerings in remembrance of the Lord do not align with Jewish practices, but by performing

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Direct teaching

And then, when we have perfected the oblation, we invoke the Holy Spirit, that He may exhibit this sacrifice, both the bread the body of Christ, and the cup the blood of Christ, in order that the receivers of these antitypes may obtain remission of sins and life eternal.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... public confession, and by the laying on of the hands of the bishop and clergy receive the right of communion, now, before their time is fulfilled, while persecution is still raging, while the peace of the Church itself is not yet restored, they are admitted to communion, and their name is presented. While the penitence has not yet been completed, confession has not yet been made, and the hands of the bishop and clergy have not yet been laid on them, the Eucharist is given to them, although it is written, "Whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord," 1 Corinthians 11:27.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... preserving for the bishop the honor of his priesthood and his dignity, have already begun to be in communion with the lapsed, to offer on their behalf, and to give them the Eucharist, when it was proper that they should receive these things in due order. For in lesser sins, which are not committed against God, repentance may be completed in a set period of time, and confession may be made after an examination of the life of the one doing repentance. And no one can come to communion unless the hands of the bishop and clergy are first laid on him. How much more, then, should all matters like these be handled with caution and moderation, according to the discipline of the Lord, in these most serious and extreme sins! Indeed, our presbyters and deacons should have given you this warning, so that they might care for the sheep entrusted to them, and by divine authority instruct them in the way of obtaining salvation through prayer. I am aware of both the peacefulness and the fear of our people. They would have been careful in making satisfaction and in pleading against God's anger, unless some of the presbyters, by trying to please them, had deceived them.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...us blood of Your Christ, and have called a royal priesthood, and a holy nation." After this let the sacrifice follow, the people standing and praying silently. And when the oblation has been made, let each rank by itself partake of the Lord's body and precious blood in order, and approach with reverence and holy fear, as to the body of their king. Let the women approach with their heads covered, as is proper to the order of women. But let the door be watched, lest any unbeliever, or anyone not yet initiated, come in.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Direct teaching

We offer this reasonable and bloodless sacrifice, which all nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting, and from the north and the south, present to You, O Lord. For great is Your name among all peoples, and in every place incense, sacrifice, and offering are presented to Your holy name.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Direct teaching

O God, receive at Your holy, heavenly, and spiritual altar in the wide heavens, through Your ministering archangels, the thank offerings of those who offer sacrifice and oblation, and of those who want to offer much or little, in secret or openly, but do not have anything to give.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

The union of the all-holy body and precious blood of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness

...se he brings his hands together over his chest in the shape of a cross. He kisses the middle of the altar and receives the upper oblation with both hands. Then, looking up, he says:

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ood and holy, and it places no compulsion in positive matters. For He says, "If you will make me an altar, you shall make it of earth." He does not say, "Make one," but, "If you will make." He does not impose necessity, but gives permission to their own free choice. For God does not need sacrifices, since by nature He is above all need. But He knew that in former times Abel, beloved by God, and Noah and Abraham, and those who came after them, offered sacrifice to God from a thankful mind, without being required, but moved only by themselves through the law of nature. So now He permitted it to the Hebrews, not commanding it, but allowing it if they wished. And if they offered from a right intention, He showed Himself pleased with their sacrifices. Therefore He says: If you desire to offer, do not offer to me as if I needed it, for I need nothing; for the world is mine, and its fullness. But when this people forgot that, and called on a calf as God instead of the true God, and credited it with bringing them out of Egypt, saying, "These are your gods, O Israel, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt"; and when these men did wickedly with the image of a calf that eats hay;

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

..., "which was required to be presented on behalf of those purified from leprosy, was a symbol of the bread of the Eucharist. This celebration, our Lord Jesus Christ established in remembrance of the suffering He endured for those purified in soul from all sin. This allows us to thank God for creating the world and everything in it for the sake of humanity, for delivering us from the wickedness we were in, and for overthrowing principalities and powers through Him who suffered according to His will. Thus, God speaks through Malachi, one of the twelve prophets, as I mentioned before, about the sacrifices presented by you at that time: 'I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord; and I will not accept your sacrifices from your hands: for from the rising of the sun to its setting, My name has been glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place incense is offered to My name, and a pure offering: for My name is great among the Gentiles, says the Lord: but you profane it.' So He then speaks of those Gentiles, namely us, who in every place offer sacrifices to Him, such as the bread of the Eucharist and the cup of the Eucharist, affirming that we glorify His name, while you profane it. Th

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Direct teaching

This do in remembrance of me; for as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show forth the Lord's death, and confess His resurrection, till He come.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Direct teaching

This do in remembrance of me; for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show forth my death and acknowledge my resurrection and ascension until I come.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you shall show forth the Lord's death until He come.

Didache, Connection to 1 Corinthians 11:26 Supporting witness

We also, our Father, thank Thee for the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed for us and for His precious body, whereof we celebrate this representation, as Himself appointed us, "to show forth His death."

Didache, Connection to Luke 22:19 Supporting witness

For this reason do you also, now the Lord is risen, offer your sacrifice, concerning which He made a constitution by us, saying, "Do this for a remembrance of me; "

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

Take, eat: this is my body, broken for you, and given for remission of sins.

1 Corinthians 11:25 Direct teaching

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:19 Direct teaching

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

1 Corinthians 11:24 Supporting witness

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:26 Supporting witness

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

And this food is called among us [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

This food is called among us [the Eucharist], and only those who believe that our teachings are true, have been washed with the washing for the remission of sins and renewal, and live as Christ instructed, are allowed to partake. We do not receive these as common bread and drink, but in the same way that Jesus Christ our Savior became flesh by the Word of God and had flesh and blood for our salvation, we have been taught that the food blessed by His word and prayer, which nourishes our blood and flesh through transformation, is the flesh and blood of Jesus who became flesh. The apostles, in the writings they composed, which are called Gospels, have passed down to us what Jesus instructed them: that He took bread, gave thanks, and said, "Do this in remembrance of Me, this is My body;" and in the same way, after taking the cup and giving thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone. The wicked devils have imitated this in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same actions. You either know or can learn that bread and a cup of water are used with certain incantations in the mystical rites of someone being initiated.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Direct teaching

... God. Let no one do anything related to the Church without the bishop. Consider that to be a proper Eucharist which is administered by the bishop or by someone he has entrusted it to. Wherever the bishop is, there let the congregation also be; just as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop to either baptize or celebrate a love-feast; but whatever he approves of is also pleasing to God, so that everything done may be secure and valid.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Supporting witness

They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Supporting witness

Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness

Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness

...ugh their office. Let no one do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let a proper Eucharist be considered as such when it is administered either by the bishop, or by someone he has entrusted it to. Wherever the bishop is present, let the multitude of the people also be there; just as where Christ is, there the whole heavenly host stands by, attending to Him as the Chief Captain of the Lord’s might, and the Governor of every intelligent nature. It is not lawful to baptize, offer, present sacrifice, or celebrate a love-feast without the bishop. But whatever seems good to the bishop is also well-pleasing to God, so that everything you do may be secure and valid.

Tertullian, De Corona Supporting witness

We take also, in congregations before daybreak, and from the hand of none but the presidents, the sacrament of the Eucharist, which the Lord both commanded to be eaten at meal-times, and enjoined to be taken by all alike.

Tertullian, On Prayer Supporting witness

Does, then, the Eucharist cancel a service devoted to God, or bind it more to God?

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ys when they go through such things, do they refuse to pray, or to touch a Bible, or to receive the Eucharist? If they admit that they do, then it is plain that they are without the Holy Spirit, who always remains with the faithful. For Solomon says about holy people, "So that each one may prepare himself, so that when he sleeps it may keep him, and when he rises it may speak with him," Proverbs 6:22. For if you think, woman, that when you are in your seven days of separation you are without the Holy Spirit, then if you were to die suddenly, you would depart without the Spirit and without sure hope in God. Or else you must understand that the Spirit is always inseparable from you, since He is not confined to a place. But you need prayer and the Eucharist and the coming of the Holy Spirit, because in this matter you have committed no sin. For neither lawful union, nor childbearing, nor menstrual cleansing, nor a nighttime emission can defile a person's nature or separate the Holy Spirit from him. Nothing can do that except impiety and unlawful conduct. For the Holy Spirit always remains with those who have Him, as long as they are worthy. And when He departs from people, He leave

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Direct teaching

...ve, which is worthy of God, and urge you to have only one faith, and one type of preaching, and one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His blood, which was shed for us, is one; one loaf is also broken for all, and one cup is shared among them all: there is only one altar for the whole Church, and one bishop, with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants. Since there is only one unbegotten Being, God, even the Father; and one only-begotten Son, God, the Word and man; and one Comforter, the Spirit of truth; and also one preaching, and one faith, and one baptism; and one Church that the holy apostles established from one end of the earth to the other by the blood of Christ, and by their own sweat and toil; you should also, therefore, as “a peculiar people, and a holy nation,” perform all things with harmony in Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands in the fear of God; and you virgins, to Christ in purity, not regarding marriage as an abomination, but desiring that which is better, not for the reproach of wedlock, but for the sake of meditating on the law. Children, obey your parents, and have affection for them, as workers together with God fo

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Short Version) Direct teaching

Take care, then, to have only one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to show the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: so that, whatever you do, you may do it according to the will of God.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Supporting witness

one loaf also is broken to all [the communicants], and one cup is distributed among them all: there is but one altar for the whole Church, and one bishop, with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants.

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Supporting witness

to You be the glory forever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom;

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Supporting witness

...You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant. To You be the glory forever." And about the broken bread: "We thank You, our Father, for the life and knowledge that You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant. To You be the glory forever." Just as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and then was gathered together and became one, so let Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom. For Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever. But let no one eat or drink of your Thanksgiving, or Eucharist, except those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord. For about this also the Lord has said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs." Matthew 7:6

1 Corinthians 10:16 Direct teaching

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Acts 2:42 Supporting witness

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.