The Mass and the Making of Western Civilisation (Dr Gregory Slyz)

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Talk Summary: What if one of the great engines of Western civilisation was not a political institution or intellectual movement, but the Mass? This talk explores the formative influence of the Roman liturgy of the Catholic Mass across the longue durée of Western history. It brings together art, architecture, music and ritual to argue that the Christian belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist inspired an extraordinary tradition of cultural creativity. From the early Church Fathers through the medieval period and beyond, the conviction that the consecrated Eucharist was truly the Body of Christ shaped not only Christian worship, but the buildings, images, music and artistic traditions that developed around it. The Mass, in this account, was far more than a private devotion or a peripheral religious practice: it was a powerful cultural force whose influence extended well beyond the walls of the church. ‍Speaker Bio: Dr Gregory Slysz was educated at the Universities of London and Oxford. He teaches history and writes for a range of publications on history and current affairs. His first book, Mary Tudor, England’s First Queen Regnant: Truth Is the Daughter of Time, challenged the long-standing portrayal of Mary Tudor as “Bloody Mary.” He is currently writing his second book, exploring the role of the liturgy and the Mass in shaping Western civilisation. This talk draws on this work.

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