History & CultureSummaryDates |
Liturgy & Theology |
Devotion & Piety |
Return to: Top of This Page --- Eucharist Index --- Fr. Tom's Home Page
5. Late Medieval [1300-1499] Unification desired by civil governments. Low Mass typical. Private Masses for souls in purgatory. People kneel throughout the Mass. Elevation of chalice added. Genuflection before the Blessed Sacrament. Proliferation of votive Masses. Exposition and Benediction. 1414-1418 Council of Constance: Decree on Communion Under One Kind
Return to: Top of This Page --- Eucharist Index --- Fr. Tom's Home Page
Return to: Top of This Page --- Eucharist Index --- Fr. Tom's Home Page
"The clergy with whom lay people had the most contact were the parish priests, and there where numerous complaints about them. In many localities there were too many of them. In a notorious example, in the German city of Breslau, there where two churches staffed by 236 "altar priests," whose sole duty was celebrating Masses for the dead. In such churches where many Masses where celebrated every day at the same times on the side altars, many people would run from one Mass to the next to be present at the elevation of the Host. For many the Eucharist had become an object of adoration rather than a sacrament to be celebrated. Sadly too many people came to think of the Mass as the priest’s own private prayer rather than a common act of worship." (Rev. Thomas J. Shelley Ph.D. in Church History: A Course on the People of God. Sadlier, Faith and Witness series, pp 74-75.)
Return to: Top of This Page --- Eucharist Index --- Fr. Tom's Home Page
Return to: Top of This Page --- Eucharist Index --- Fr. Tom's Home Page
Click here to go to the next chapter of this history Click here to return to the summary chapter
Return to: Top of This Page --- Eucharist Index --- Fr. Tom's Home Page
© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved. This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M. Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own. Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it. This site was updated on 07/06/10 . Your comments on this site are welcome at tomrichs@psci.net.