The Lord’s Supper Restored = the Mass Reformed

Last updated on: December 19, 2014 at 12:00 pm by Guest Contributor

The Lord’s Supper Restored = the Mass Reformed 2014-12-19T12:00:11-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As we near the official anniversary of the Reformation it is appropriate for us to reflect on the intent of the Reformers so that we can better understand what we’re celebrating. Such an endeavor necessarily takes up more space than a blog post can provide but I would like to briefly address Luther’s reform of the mass in relation to the Lord’s Supper.

Some of the most heinous practices in the medieval mass were associated with the Sacrament of the Altar. By the time Luther reformed the mass, the medieval church was prescribing, in some cases, that all Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper at least once a year because it was so rarely attended. This was largely due to the fact that the mass became more remote as altars were pushed back against the eastern wall of the building, often with a wall separating the priest from the people, the service remained in Latin, and the common cup (the wine in the Lord’s Supper) was denied to the laity. For many Christians, the mass became a time of private devotion as they peered through the dividers standing between them and the priest. They did not participate in the service of the mass, perhaps with the exception of singing the Kyrie and praying the rosary while they watched the priest. These abuses of the mass reflected deep theological error and ignorance.

Luther’s great “rediscovery” was primarily manifested in his understanding of the sacraments. For Luther, salvation was won, once and for all, by Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. The forgiveness of sins and communion with God is received by grace through faith. Luther’s understanding of the cross then changed how he understood the sacraments (particularly the sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper). He no longer saw the Sacrament of the Altar as man’s work done to daily satisfy an angry God but rather God’s work (Gottesdienst), done once and for all on the cross, now given in the Body and Blood of the Christ at the altar. By reforming the mass Luther sought to turn the focus of the mass back to understanding it as Gottesdienst. This would require both a reform in the practices of the mass as well as educating the laity as to its purpose.

With this in mind, Luther’s reforms took on a pedagogical nature. He advocated for moving the altar closer to the laity, chanting the words of institution out loud, in the vernacular, so that all could hear and understand what was being done. By doing this, Luther highlighted the fact that the priest is operating as a minister of Christ and that it is in fact the Word, Christ, who adds his very own body and blood to the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins. He also called for the preaching of God’s Word at all services so that the people could be taught the Gospel and further understand the nature of their worship as receptive.

To be sure, this is only a cursory look at Luther’s reform of the mass; however, the important take away is the reasoning why he reformed it. Luther had no intention of totally abolishing the mass, as was the case with later reformers, but rather he wanted to restore it to its original purpose of receiving God’s gifts. As we observe the anniversary of the Reformation this year, let’s not get caught up in the language of salvation by grace through faith alone as an abstract thought divorced from the means by which we receive that grace. Instead, let’s stay true to the legacy of the Reformation and faithfully receive God’s gifts with thanksgiving and praise.

unnamed_opt

Photo Credit: Daniel Broaddus

Daniel Broaddus majored in Government (Political Theory track) at Patrick Henry College where he graduated in 2012. He is now in the Master of Divinity program at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

Lutheran sacramental theology

Martin Luther

Protestant Reformation

Reformation Day

sacraments

theology

Previous Post

October 27, 2014

The Value of Luther’s Two Kingdoms for Today

Next Post

October 27, 2014 Luther and the Joy of Repentance

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Culture Slideshow Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2026 October 2025 July 2025 April 2025 February 2025 October 2024 August 2023 June 2023 March 2023 February 2023 November 2022 April 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 October 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz