Reverend James L. Meagher examines how Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles undertook the first Mass, and what His example of Mass means to Christian churches and worshippers.
Meagher begins by debunking a common misconception: the idea that the Mass tradition originates from the Last Supper, whereby the eating of bread and wine is symbolic of God's flesh and blood. This singular event, while important in the life of Christ and hence Christian history, was not the origin of Mass; rather the traditions that constitute the ceremony stretch back centuries, with Jewish texts mentioning for instance the importance of bread during holy gatherings.
What functions the Mass had, and how it sheds light upon the procedures of temple and church life during the time of Christ, is amply discussed. Meagher's work is filled with annotations, referencing Biblical lore and passages of the Old and New Testaments, together with other investigations of the subject. Through his incisive narration of temple traditions, we gain an accurate history of the Jewish temple, the services that took place in the synagogue, and how these formed the basis of the Mass undertaken by Christ and his followers.
Rev. James Meagher (1848 - 1920) was a noted author of books on Catholic and Christian topics, publishing several works which helped explain and clarify aspects of the Bible for believers.