How Christ Said the First Mass

Reverend James L. Meagher explores how Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles offered the first Mass and what Christ’s own example reveals about the nature, structure, and origins of Christian worship. Meagher begins by correcting a widespread misunderstanding: that the Mass began solely at the Last Supper as a symbolic ritual of bread and wine. While the Last Supper is momentous, Meagher shows that the roots of the Mass reach far deeper into centuries of Jewish liturgical and temple tradition. Ancient texts had long emphasized the centrality of bread, sacrifice, and sacred meals within divine worship.

By examining these older traditions, Meagher uncovers how the practices of the Jewish temple and synagogue shaped the actions of Christ and the apostles. He presents a detailed narrative of Jewish worship in the time of Jesus, illuminating the continuity between the temple rites and the early Christian celebration of the Eucharist. Drawing on Scripture, rabbinic material, and historical scholarship, he explains how Christ fulfilled and transformed these rites in establishing the Mass.

Through clear exposition and extensive annotation, Meagher offers readers a deeper understanding of biblical liturgy, the structure of the early Church, and the divine logic behind the ceremonies Christ Himself participated in and perfected.

About the Author

Rev. James L. Meagher (1848–1920) was a prolific writer and priest known for making the Scriptures, biblical history, and Catholic tradition accessible to the faithful. He authored numerous books explaining aspects of the Bible, ancient Jewish worship, and Christian doctrine, helping readers understand the historical and theological foundations of Catholic belief.