On the Canon of the Mass

Huldrych Zwingli's treatise on the Canon of the Mass emerged from the heated liturgical controversies of the early Reformation in Zurich. Written in 1523, the work responds to both conservative Catholic defenders of traditional eucharistic theology and to fellow reformers who advocated more gradual changes to worship practices. Zwingli felt compelled to articulate a thorough theological critique of the Roman Mass at a moment when Zurich's religious future hung in the balance.

Zwingli systematically dismantles the theological foundations of the Mass by challenging the doctrine of transubstantiation and the sacrificial understanding of the Eucharist. He argues that Christ's sacrifice was completed once and for all on the cross, making any notion of repeated sacrifice in the Mass both unnecessary and blasphemous. The treatise develops his distinctive memorial view of communion, contending that the sacrament functions primarily as a remembrance of Christ's finished work rather than a means of grace that effects spiritual transformation. Zwingli grounds his arguments in careful exegesis of key New Testament passages, particularly Paul's account of the Last Supper, while exposing what he sees as medieval accretions that obscured the gospel's clarity.

This treatise established Zwingli as a major voice in Reformation sacramental theology and helped crystallize the Protestant rejection of medieval eucharistic doctrine. Its influence extended far beyond Zurich, shaping Reformed liturgical practice across Europe and contributing to the broader Protestant emphasis on Word over sacrament. The work remains significant for understanding the theological fault lines that emerged between Lutheran and Reformed traditions regarding sacramental presence.

Who should read this: Students of Reformation theology seeking to understand the development of Protestant sacramental theology and the specific character of Zwingli's reforms will find this essential reading. Those interested primarily in devotional or mystical approaches to the Eucharist will likely find Zwingli's rationalist argumentation unsympathetic to their concerns.