Sunday Eucharist in the Early Church by St. Justin, Martyr
Source : Crossroads This famous passage from the F irst Apology of St. Justin Martyr (Cap. 66-67: PG 6, 427-431) is used in the Roman Catholic Office of Readings for the third Sunday of Easter with the accompanying biblical reading of Revelation 6:1-17). Reflecting the way the Eucharist was celebrated in Rome about 150 AD, only about 55 years after the last New Testament books, it makes clear several important things: 1 .) the Eucharist was interpreted in a very realistic way in the early church 2) it was the principal, weekly worship celebration of the Christian Church 3) it took place on Sunday, not on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath the meaning of the Eucharist and manner of its celebration was handed down by the apostles ____ No one may share the Eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ...