In his new book, Brief History of the Roman MassFather Michael Lang, priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri and professor of theology, offers a detailed and accessible view of the historical development of the Mass, from its origins to the present day.
In an interview with ACI Prensa, Father Lang, originally from London (England), shared his motivations for writing this book and the importance of the liturgy in the life of the Catholic Church.
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“I am certainly passionate about the liturgy, it is my main research interest,” said the doctor in Theology from the University of Oxford and former consultant to the Holy See. Furthermore, he explained that his passion for liturgy has been a constant driving force in his academic and pastoral life.
This interest led him to explore in depth the history of Christian worship, moving away from his initial studies in Patristics to focus on the Roman rite of the Mass. “This book is really the abridged and most popular version of a larger monograph that I published in 2022 on the history of the stable core of the rite, beginning with the origins of the Eucharist and ending at the Council of Trent in the 16th century,” he said. he.
The priest stressed that the basic structure of the Mass and its evolution over time are key elements in his work. “I focus on the basic structure of the Mass. I answer to Why is the structure of the Mass the way it is? How did it develop? How did the pieces come together?”
The current Mass: A continuity that goes back to Jesus at the Last Supper
Through his research, Father Lang seeks to show how, despite historical and cultural transformations, “the essential continuity… takes us back to the time of the apostles and Jesus at the Last Supper.”
When asked about the relevance of this topic today, Fr. Lang highlighted that “the liturgy of worship is really at the heart of what the Church does: “it is the worship of God from which everything else flows.” “As Vatican II very rightly said, especially the Eucharist, the Mass, which is the most important act of worship and the most important of the sacraments.”
He also assured that understanding its historical development is crucial for full participation in the liturgy. “History is very important to our understanding of faith. “We believe that God revealed himself in history… and the history of the church is important to us,” explained Father Lang. According to him, this historical awareness also “helps you enter into the prayers of the Mass, helps you make these prayers your own, to make them part of your own spiritual life.”
The objective of the book, according to the author, is to provide Catholics with a tool that allows them to better understand the liturgy and, consequently, participate more consciously in it. “I hope that my little book helps readers get a sense of this and makes their participation in the Mass more fruitful,” concluded Father Lang.
The book can be purchased and Amazon.
Diego Lopez Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I have worked as a digital journalist. I started my career at the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio. In 2016, I started as an editor at ACI Prensa and I have worked as a web editor since 2018. Starting in 2024, I write the newsletter for social media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.