The Liturgy and the Old Tradition

Not only did the Old Testament but also the old tradition itself aimed at announcing the sacrifice of the Eucharist. But unfortunately those whose Holy Scriptures and Traditions are full of shadows and symbols of the Messiah and of His sacrifice refused Him and the Eucharist.

Their tradition reveals that their daily Liturgy was a shadow of the true Liturgy of Christ.

Now we will form an idea about their ancient Liturgy drawn from their own books.

The Talmud says that the prayers were instituted to correspond with the sacrifice. There was a daily Liturgy celebrated in the temple side by side with the sacrifices as part of the Worship at the altar.

The Jewish encyclopedia says, "In addition to the sacrifice which was the priests' responsibility, and the singing of the psalms, which was performed by the Levites, the temple had its special Liturgy for the third class i.e. the people. The Talmud and the Tosef mention that all the people were divided into twenty-four sections, so that for every division of priests serving at the altar there corresponded one of the Levites and one of the laity. Each section served for one week in the Temple, and this period was a time of fasting. Every day they read a prescribed portion of the first chapter of Genesis."

• 1- The Levites recited prayers of thanksgiving and praise during the morning and evening sacrifices.
• 2- In the morning the priest read the Ten commandments and the

"Shema," and recited several benedictions.

• 3- A prayer called "Tefillah" of "Esrah," consisting of eighteen benedictions including sentences of thanksgiving, were recited after meals as a part of the early liturgy. It was regarded as a rabbinical.
• 4- Often the people who were present, responded with some formulas, consisting of one or two words; Amen, Hallel or Hodu, Hossana (save us), Baruk (Bless us), Praise God, etc. These formulas have Eucharistic spirit.