Includes bibliographical references

Contents:

The historical study of the liturgy: The oral tradition ; Ancient witnesses of the tradition in the liturgical domain ; The archeological vestiges ; The written sources ; The method followed for this historical study --

Apostolic times: the first century: The sources ; The assemblies or synaxes ; Meal of the community and the "Lord's Supper" ; The "Lord's Supper" at Corinth ; The places used for the assemblies ; The accounts of baptisms ; The liturgy in time ; The liturgical ministries ; The rites of the Apostolic Church --

Liturgy in Christian minorities during times of relative clandestinely: The sources ; The assemblies ; The places used for the assemblies ; The Eucharistic celebration ; The synaxes on weekdays ; The liturgy of baptism ; Ministries and ordinations ; The reconciliation of penitents ; Liturgies for the martyrs and the dead ; The Paschal Feast ; The oil of the sick ; Marriage ; Conclusion --

The liturgy in the Roman Empire after the Peace of the Church: The sources ; The assemblies ; The Basilicas ; The Eucharistic celebration ; The synaxes on weekdays ; The baptismal liturgy ; Ministries and ordinations ; Marriage, a family ceremony ; The reconciliation of penitents ; The oil of the sick ; Liturgies for martyrs and the dead ; Feasts and calendars ; Conclusion: a golden age for the liturgy --

Christendom: the conversion of nations and the administration of the common people: The Carolingian renaissance and its effects on Chrstian institutions ; The importation of Roman liturgical books ; Evolution of the books of the Roman liturgy ; Stabilization of the liturgy of the Roman church --

Stability, fixity, and restorations of the Roman liturgy from the Twelfth century to Vatican II: The eclipse of the litrugical assembly ; From the Ecclesial celebration to the private mass ; The Missal of Pope Pius V ; From the celebration to the administration of the sacraments ; The funeral rites ; The calendar and feasts ; The expansion of devotions ; The arrangement of church buildings.

"How great the differences between the Last Supper celebrated by Jesus and a pontifical high Mass at St. Peter's in Rome - and also between the early baptisms by immersion described in the Acts of the Apostles and the baptisms of babies in our parishes! Why such a change in the celebration of the Christian mystery? Why the recent reforms, often poorly understood? We can understand this evolution only through a carefully documented historical survey, like the one the author offers in this book." "Marcel Metzger describes the most important phases of this evolution. Throughout the first millennium, it is in its essentials common to the Eastern and Western churches. For the second millennium, the historian must explain the deviations of the Western churches that urgently called for the reform and renewal initiated by Vatican II." "This clear and precise exposition is designed to awaken readers' interest in the realities that have made and still make up the Church's liturgical life: assemblies, Eucharist, baptism, reconciliation, daily praise . . . but also the Church's calendar and its architecture."--BOOK JACKET.