The North African Liturgy

It is thought that North Africa was the birthplace of Latin Christianity. Because of Muslim expansion, however, the church did not survive in North Africa beyond the eighth century. Since no actual texts of the ancient North African liturgy are extant, the outline of the rite can only be reconstructed from other sources.

It is certain that North Africa, the cradle of Latin Christianity, was likewise the first place to use Latin in the liturgy. Without discouraging the ancient practice of improvisation, councils and synods (e.g., Hippo [393], canon 25) provided guidelines for formulating liturgical prayers and insisted that prayers composed elsewhere be approved by the teachers (fratres instructiores). The composition of prayers by heretics prompted a later synod to direct that "preces, prefationes, commendationes and impositiones manuum" be composed under supervision of the hierarchy and used by all (Carthage [407], canon 10).

     African collections of libelli missarum and even sacramentaries are referred to in writings from the fifth century; but, apart from a few Arian fragments, no actual liturgical texts have survived. Nevertheless, details of the rite have been gleaned from non-liturgical sources, e.g., conciliar decrees like those already mentioned and especially the writings and sermons of Augustine of Hippo. The following order of the Mass is based on a reconstruction by F. Van der Meer (Augustine the Bishop [New York: Harper & Row, 1961], 388–402).

     (In this and all subsequent outlines, the asterisk marks a chant by the people or choir; the readings are indicated by CAPITALS.)

Entrance of the Clergy

Greeting

EPISTLE

*PSALM (Augustine considered this a reading)

GOSPEL

Homily

[announcements]

Dismissal of the Catechumens

Solemn Intercessions

Offering with *Psalm singing

Preface dialogue

Improvised Preface without Sanctus

Approved Eucharistic prayer

"Amen"

Fractio

Lord's Prayer

Communion with *Psalm 33

Final prayer

Dismissal

     The year after Augustine's death (430) the African church saw the beginning of more than a century of bitter persecution by the Arian Vandals. In 698, Carthage was taken by the Moors and the church that had given birth to Latin Christianity ceased to exist altogether.