The first summary description of life in the early Christian community is found in the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47):
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. (Acts 2:42)
– The teaching of the apostles referred to instructions for the members of the Christian community, explaining the scriptures in the light of the life and teachings of Jesus.
– The communal life (or brotherhood or fellowship) referred to the sharing of goods and possessions which expressed and strengthened the community (or communion) of spirit.
– The breaking of the bread referred to the Jewish meal at which the presider pronounces a blessing before dividing the bread (or distributing the food). For the early Christians, it denoted the Eucharist.
– The prayers referred to the prayers in common (later, especially, the prayers of the Divine Liturgy or Mass).
Verse 46 says:
Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes.
It seems to refer to a simpler version of what later evolved into what we now call the Divine Liturgy or Mass, before it became elaborated with ritual ceremonies and vesture and presided only by an ordained minister.
This “communion” implied not only communion with the Lord, but also the communion of their common faith and fidelity to the apostolic teachings, of their sharing of goods and unity of spirit, and of their remembrance and thanksgiving for salvation in Jesus and unity in the one Spirit.
“Common”—“communal”—“community”—“communion”—even “communism” are all related words, although they certainly have a very wide range of meanings and usages nowadays.
But, it helps to know what they share in their root meanings and how they have evolved and changed in their usage. It may help us to use and understand them better.
Under Pope Pius XII, archeological investigations were initiated to unearth the grave and relics of St. Peter the Apostle.
According to tradition, the main altar of St. Peter’s basilica was built over his tomb.
Researchers began to explore the area.
Beneath today’s basilica were the remains of the first basilica. Beneath the remains of that Constantinian era basilica were the remains of a much earlier monument.
That monument was built in a Roman cemetery, even damaging some of the nearby graves. The cemetery was next to the Circus of Nero on a road out of the city near the Vatican hill.
How hard it is to imagine the original site of Peter’s crucifixion and burial as one stands in the great basilica of our day—but it is the very place!
As the centuries passed and as one structure was built on and elaborated over another it became harder and harder to recognize the grave site itself.
Our words are like that, especially our religious words. They sometimes have been elaborated and embellished, successively enlarged and rebuilt almost to the point that it’s hard to imagine their original meanings.
Dig carefully for the original sense, but don’t destroy all the good, grandeur and development over the centuries!
2 May 2021