Luther: Formula Missae: Order Of Mass And Communion For The Church At Wittenberg (1523)

Luther's Formula Missae, written after his break with Rome, did not suggest a wholescale reform of the Catholic mass. Rather, Luther cautiously suggested ways of adapting the Mass for use in local congregations and also proposed ways to make it more relevant to the common people. Introduction Martin Luther (14831546) came reluctantly to liturgical change. In the midst of growing enthusiasm for reformation, he was afraid that any liturgical dictum from his hand would be quickly snatched up, widely printed, and applied as a new law. He did not want anyone saying,"This proposal Luther writes is the only true way to do Christian worship. " Rather, he believed that liturgical change depended upon actual pastoral circumstances and that it always had to be preceded by education and accompanied by love. Furthermore, if only the gospel of Christ was clearly preached, the character of the ceremonies hardly mattered. His own taste, like that of the common people he meant to serve, seems to hav…