How old was the Mass?

The entire mass was in Latin and there were no words in the vernacular during the rite of the Eucharist. The priest went passed the door of the sacristy with the chalice and paten in the hands and on the altar.

The investments were different from today , after the Second Vatican Council, which radically changed the structure of the mass .

The priest wore a cassock and above a white surplice was laid , stole, chasuble and a small wrist was known in a lower stole, as the regulator , to the sweat from his brow wipe while the victim . The celebrant of the Mass was sweating during the ritual in any case.

Another difference today was that the priest stood with his back to the congregation and women were forced to wear the veil during the fairs .

The musical instrument was the organ, which is completely silent during Lent . On some older churches, the organ was played to support the traditional Gregorian chant . Instruments effects were not allowed.

In the past , especially in the Middle Ages , the fair had two parts. The first part is the Liturgy of the Word , which was allowed for all believers to participate . In the second part , the Eucharist, a bell was touched , so that the faithful do not yet baptized ( catechumens ) left the temple and was baptized only believers in Christ.

However, the bell was often played during the service to the faithful what signal part of the fair, which was recited .

Typically, the priest did not pray the Mass together because each one other occupied altar. The bishop occupies the central altar and priest praying in the side altars. For this reason, the bell was played , the faithful about what had happened altars of sacrifice, the central point of the mass , to warn .

The faithful do not take part in the fair, just watched the rites in Latin and reacted according to formulas altar boy or master of ceremonies , first confess what should be said .

Given Communion in the mouth of the faithful and the wafer was dipped in wine, rested an altar boy under the paten during communion , not to run the risk of the host fall to the ground.

Some formulas were changed after the Second Vatican Council. In the Latin Rite, the priest said :

 - Dominis Vobiscum . (The Lord be with you )

 - Et cum spiritu tuo ( And with your soul has installation )

 - Sursum Corda ( Lift the heart to high)

 - Habemus ad Dominum nostris cordis (We have it extended to the Lord )

Formulas according to the liturgical reform :

- The Lord be with you.

- He is in our midst.

- Lift up your hearts.

- Our heart is in God.

The term mass is of Latin origin , the Mass - which means mass .

 by William Campelo