Reflecting on the Eucharist & Holy Orders before the Lord’s Day. The clearest view of the early Church’s worship outside of scripture is The Didache, which includes “Assemble on the Lord’s day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not to take part with you until he has been reconciled, so as to avoid any profanation of Your sacrifice [Matt. 5:23–24]. For this is the offering of which the Lord has said, ‘Everywhere and always bring Me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and My Name is the wonder of nations’ (A.D. 70).
Reflecting on the Eucharist & Holy Orders before the Lord’s Day
The clearest view of the early Church’s worship outside of scripture is
The Didache, which includes “Assemble on the Lord’s day, and break
bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so
that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with
his fellow is not to take part with you until he has been reconciled, so as
to avoid any profanation of Your sacrifice [Matt. 5:23–24]. For this is
the offering of which the Lord has said, ‘Everywhere and always bring
Me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and
My Name is the wonder of nations’ (A.D. 70).
Saint Clement of Rome I writes: “Our sin will not be small if we eject
from the episcopate those who blamelessly and holily have offered its
sacrifices. Blessed are those presbyters who have already finished their
course, and who have obtained a fruitful and perfect release”
(Letter to the Corinthians 44:4–5 [A.D. 80]).
Saint Ignatius of Antioch writes: “Make certain, therefore, that you all
observe one common Eucharist; for there is but one Body of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and but one cup of union with his Blood, and one single
altar of sacrifice—even as there is also but one bishop, with his clergy
and my own fellow servitors, the deacons. This will ensure that all your
doings are in full accord with the will of God”
(Letter to the Philadelphians 4, A.D. 110).
Clement of Alexandria writes: “Even here in the Church the gradations
of bishops, presbyters, and deacons happen to be imitations, in my
opinion, of the angelic glory and of that arrangement which, the
scriptures say, awaits those who have followed in the footsteps of the
apostles and who have lived in complete righteousness according to the
gospel” (Miscellanies 6:13:107:2 [A.D. 208]).
Let us pray. Lord, Your church bows low before the Eucharistic
presence of Jesus Christ. May we continue to strive to fulfill Your holy
will in adoring, protecting, revering, and receiving the Eucharist. May
those who confect the Sacrament of the Altar do so with dignity, purpose
and love of his Savior. May the Church revel in that great gift God
graciously grants, gloriously through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
