Sources for Medieval Christian Liturgy | Justin Martyr, Apology, Book I, chapter 67 Translated by E.G. Cuthbert F. Atchley, Ordo Romanus Primus, (London, 1905): 65. |
On the day called Sunday all who dwell in cities or in the country meet together in one place, and
the narratives of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as there is time.
When the reader has finished, the president verbally instructs us, and exhorts us to imitate those
good persons (or things) [of whom we have just heard]. Then we all stand up together, and offer
up prayers; and, our prayers being over, bread and wine and water are brought in, and the
president in like manner offers up prayers and thanksgivings to the best of his ability, and the
people shout assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each person and a general
partaking of that over which the thanksgiving has been made, and it is sent to those who are not
present by the deacons.