The Mass we celebrate today was shaped by twenty centuries of popes who added, moved, and reformed its parts. Which pope gave us the Gloria, the Kyrie, the Agnus Dei — and what does it mean that the Church can change the liturgy at all?
The History of the Catholic Mass: The Popes Who Changed It
This session traces the history of the Catholic Mass through the popes who reshaped it across two millennia. Drawing on the Liber Pontificalis and early liturgical witnesses, Dr. Pitre walks through the ancient popes credited with specific additions — St. Alexander I and the institution narrative, St. Sixtus I and the Sanctus, St. Telesphorus and the Gloria, St. Innocent I moving the Sign of Peace, St. Celestine and the responsorial psalms, and St. Gelasius arranging the Roman Canon — then the great medieval reforms of St. Gregory the Great (the Kyrie, the placement of the Our Father, Gregorian chant), and modern developments through Trent, St. John XXIII, Pope Francis, and Vatican II. The framing question comes from the Catechism (CCC 1205): the liturgy has an "immutable part" that is divinely instituted and parts the Church may adapt. So what may change, what may not, and by whose authority?
Key passages & sources examined: CCC 1205; Pius XII, Mediator Dei no. 58; Liber Pontificalis (Sts. Alexander, Sixtus I, Telesphorus, Celestine, Leo the Great, Gelasius, Sergius I, Gregory III); Innocent I, Letter 25 to Decentius; Gregory the Great, Letters 9.26; Durandus, Rationale 4.35.12; Council of Trent, Session 21 (1 Cor 4:1); Sacrosanctum Concilium 22, 50; St. Paul VI, General Audience (Nov 19, 1969)
What does the history of the Catholic Mass reveal about how it can change? The video shows, for example, that individual parts — the Gloria, Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei — entered the Mass at identifiable moments under specific popes, while its divinely instituted core remained. The distinction between the changeable and unchangeable is the heart of the discussion.
Which popes are credited with the biggest changes? Dr. Pitre highlights Gregory the Great above all, along with the ancient popes named in the Liber Pontificalis and the reforms of Trent and Vatican II.
Can a priest change the Mass on his own authority? The session takes up this question directly through the Council of Trent and Vatican II's teaching on who may regulate the liturgy — watch for the full answer.
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dgbaugh
Hi David, I see you do have a subscrition. Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Mass Readings Explained' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Watch Videos' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
I have inherited leading a Bible Study based on the Mass Readings for each Sunday. The videos are very helpful in facts and insights to add to my research and prayerful preparations. Thank you for offering these teachings.
I subscribed and offered payment
but I have received nothing I requested???
Please advise
dgbaugh
Hi David, I see you do have a subscrition. Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Mass Readings Explained' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Watch Videos' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
I have inherited leading a Bible Study based on the Mass Readings for each Sunday. The videos are very helpful in facts and insights to add to my research and prayerful preparations. Thank you for offering these teachings.
