EPISODE · Dec 14, 2024 · 50 MIN
The Roman Mass and Its History: An Interview with Fr. Uwe Michael Lang
from The UnCommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr · host Iowa Catholic Radio
We interview Fr. Uwe Michael Lang about his new book, A Short History of the Roman Mass. Father Uwe Michael Lang is a priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in London and a lecturer in theology at Allen Hall Seminary and St. Mary's University, Twickenham. He is the author of The Voice of the Church at Prayer, Turning Towards the Lord: Orientation in Liturgical Prayer, and Signs of the Holy One: Liturgy, Ritual, and Expression of the Sacred. This book is a short introduction to the development of the Roman Rite of Mass, the most widely used of the Church’s liturgical rites, from its origins in early Christianity until the present day. Over the centuries, the form of Mass most Catholics are familiar with has been shaped by the Apostolic See of Rome in contact and exchange with other local churches. Understanding this rich and complex history will help not only the clergy in their sacramental ministry, but all the faithful in participating consciously and fruitfully in the liturgy of the Church. In the wake of the liturgical reforms initiated by Pope Pius XII in the mid-20th century, fully embraced by the Second Vatican Council, and implemented in the postconciliar period, there has been an intense and often controversial debate on continuity and rupture in liturgical development. Amid this debate, the long and complex history of the Roman liturgy is not always sufficiently acknowledged. The refinement of the Roman Mass, as this book shows, has been marked both by continuity and by change. From its formative period in late antiquity, the ritual shape of the Roman Mass was affected by religious, social, cultural, political, and economic transformations. But changes are to be expected over such a long period of time and the wide geographical area where this rite has been used. It is the essential continuity that stands out. This work challenges the conventional narrative that the liturgy of the Western church moved from early dynamic development through medieval decline to early modern stagnation and was only revived in the wake of the Second Vatican Council – a narrative that still has considerable traction both in academic publications and among the wider public. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: - Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio - Man Up! with Joe Stopulos - Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson - The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr - Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe - Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada - Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen - Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle - The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions - The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith - The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi - The Daily Mass from St. Pius X - The Daily Mass from St. Theresa - Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John Want to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Embed this episode
What this episode covers
We interview Fr. Uwe Michael Lang about his new book, A Short History of the Roman Mass. Father Uwe Michael Lang is a priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in London and a lecturer in theology at Allen Hall Seminary and St. Mary's University, Twickenham. He is the author of The Voice of the Church at Prayer, Turning Towards the Lord: Orientation in Liturgical Prayer, and Signs of the Holy One: Liturgy, Ritual, and Expression of the Sacred. This book is a short introduction to the development of the Roman Rite of Mass, the most widely used of the Church’s liturgical rites, from its origins in early Christianity until the present day. Over the centuries, the form of Mass most Catholics are familiar with has been shaped by the Apostolic See of Rome in contact and exchange with other local churches. Understanding this rich and complex history will help not only the clergy in their sacramental ministry, but all the faithful in participating consciously and fruitfully in the liturgy of the Church. In the wake of the liturgical reforms initiated by Pope Pius XII in the mid-20th century, fully embraced by the Second Vatican Council, and implemented in the postconciliar period, there has been an intense and often controversial debate on continuity and rupture in liturgical development. Amid this debate, the long and complex history of the Roman liturgy is not always sufficiently acknowledged. The refinement of the Roman Mass, as this book shows, has been marked both by continuity and by change. From its formative period in late antiquity, the ritual shape of the Roman Mass was affected by religious, social, cultural, political, and economic transformations. But changes are to be expected over such a long period of time and the wide geographical area where this rite has been used. It is the essential continuity that stands out. This work challenges the conventional narrative that the liturgy of the Western church moved from early dynamic development through medieval decline to early modern stagnation and was only revived in the wake of the Second Vatican Council – a narrative that still has considerable traction both in academic publications and among the wider public.
Ready to play
The Roman Mass and Its History: An Interview with Fr. Uwe Michael Lang
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Feb 4, 2026 ·18m
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.