Bulletins
June 26, 2016
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After the many admonitions in the New Testament by St. Paul and St. Peter to greet one another with a holy kiss, the earliest instance of such a gesture being mentioned as taking place in the Sacred Liturgy was only a few decades later. St. Justin Martyr in the First Apology, a letter written in the year 155 to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. Since non- Christians were not permitted to attend the Sacred Liturgy there were lots of rumors floating about what happened when Christians were consuming the Body and Blood of Christ. You can imagine ancient nonbelievers were accusing Christians of cannibalism. Can you imagine what nonsense modern nonbelievers make of St. Peter and St. Paul kissing? I digress.
St. Justin goes into great detail about the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. In chapter sixty-five of that letter to the Emperor, St. Justin provides a summary of the Mass:
But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen.
Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen!
Rev. Christopher J. Pollard
