Jesus did not pass down to the apostles a strict literal transcript at the Last Supper for future use. The words "This is my body" and "This is my blood" are so brief and striking that scholars say that they (the words) have not undergone any kind of change.

After Jesus died, the apostles were confused. It was not until the Holy Spirit came that they went out and preached the good news of the risen lord.

The apostles had to decide how often they were going to celebrate the "breaking of the bread." The church did not receive a ready-made mass from Jesus. It was, and still is, up to the church as to how the mass will express itself.

From 100 AD to 313 AD, the church was forced to live a secret life because of persecution against Christians. During this time, the presider was free to improvise his own prayers. People took communion in their hands, drank from the cup, and stood as a sign of their belief in the resurrection of Jesus.

In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and the church then flourished. Pagans were converting and the church took over pagan temples. With so many converts, there needed to be a sense of order to the mass. Presiders could no longer improvise.

During the time from 604 AD to 1517 AD, many changes were made to the liturgy. For example, the host became small, round, and white. People received it on the tongue. People went to communion less and less often, and preferred to see the eucharist. Communion rails were added, and the priests turned their backs to the people to say mass. None of these practices were part of the traditions of the early church. The mass became very solemn and dignified. People were no longer participants in the liturgy, but became spectators. Gregorian chant was sung by the priest and the choir, and the people had no role in it.

The two basic elements of the mass - the sacrifice and the gift of Jesus as food - were undisputed realities for Christians in the Middle Ages.

Martin Luther played a significant role in religious and civil affairs in the 16th century. He believed in the real presence at mass, but did not believe in devotion outside of the Lord's Supper. He was an advocate of salvation by faith alone and that the word should have first place in the liturgy. Luther also wanted the mass in the language and culture of the people.

Pope Paul III called the Council of Trent in 1542 and it shaped Catholicism for the next 400 years. Trent affirmed that: Christ remains in the consecrated host even after the mass is over; adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is legitimate, and the mass is truly the sacrifice of Christ.

A new missal for the mass was made official in 1570 by Pope Pius V. The missal was obligatory for the entire church and nothing could be changed or improvised in the liturgy. It was forbidden to use any language other than Latin.

In January 1959, Pope John XXIII first talked about a second Vatican council. Liturgical reform was talking place in the half-century leading up to Vatican II.

The Constitution of the Liturgy was adopted by the council and it emphasized the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It also said that the liturgy is an action of Christ, the priest, and of his body which is the church.

Vatican II saw liturgy as the "summit toward which the activity of the church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows."

A keyword in the Vatican II documents on the liturgy is "participation." The faithful are called to full, active, and conscious participation in the liturgy.

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