latin word missa. Its the same root word -
missia for missile (it means to "send
forth"). The same way a missile is shot forth, we are
sent forth to love and to serve the
Lord.
To read more about the names and terms associated with
the Holy Mass, check out the Catechism #1338-1332.
For more Scriptures regarding the apostles, the first
Bishops, and the early Christians coming together to
celebrate the Holy Mass, check out:
Mt 26:26-30, Mk 14:22-26, Lk 22:14-20, 1 Cor 11:23-34,
Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 5:7-8, Jude 12
And, read this excerpt from early Church Father St.
Justin (he wrote this in 150, over a century after
Jesus had ascended into Heaven):
"On the day called Sunday there is a meeting in one
place...the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of
the prophets are read as long as time permits. When
the reader has finished, the presider in a discourse
urges and invites us to the imitation of these noble
things. Then we all stand up together and offer
prayers. And, as said before, when we have finished
the prayer, bread is brought, and wine and water, and
the presider similarly sends up prayers and
thanksgiving to the best of his ability, and the
congregation assents, saying the Amen; the
distribution, and reception of the consecrated
elements by each one, takes place and they are sent to
the absent by the deacons..."
- St. Justin, First Apology, 67
This not only depicts the Mass (as we still celebrate
it 1900 years later), but that the Tradition of the
Mass was celebrated and the Eucharistic true presence
understood and believed by the early Christians (just
like St. Paul and the apostles believed it) over a
century later.
In fact, this letter that depicts the practices of the
early Christians and the Tradition of the Church was
occuring almost 250 years before the final canon (that
is the Bible as we now know it) was formally put
together in its present form.
How's that for history?
Be God's!
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
Phil 4:13
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