Mass in the Early Church

     The central activity of the mass in the early church was the breaking of the bread. this Eucharistic Liturgy was to be celebrated on every Sunday for it is the first day of the week. According to St. Justin Martyr the celebration consisted of seven main activities. These seven activities were gathering on sunday, readings from scripture, a homily, prayers of the faithful, an offertory, a eucharistic prayer, and the reception of the Eucharist. We are called, through scripture, to participate in every single one of these activities. "Memoirs of the Apostles and the writings of the prophets are read," is just one of the ways to show how St. Justin Martyr described the readings from scripture. As you can see by the activities, mass is structured the same way now as it was for the Early Church. The focal point of mass in both periods of time of course being the Eucharistical Sacrifice for it was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper and has been celebrated ever since.