agapae

Some think there is a reference to the agapae, or love-feasts.

ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus 1819-1893 2001

Established primarily to relieve the bishops and presbyters of their more secular and invidious duties, notably in distributing the alms of the faithful, we need not do more than recall the large place occupied by the agapae, or love feasts, in the early worship of the Church, to understand how readily the duty of serving at tables may have passed into the privilege of serving at the altar.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

While the psalms were sung in traditional fashion during the early Eucharistic celebrations at the public meetings, and the love-feasts, or agapae, or the early Christians, there soon sprang up the custom of improvising songs, participated in by the whole assembly, which, though religious in burden, by their spontaneity and freedom stood in contrast to the psalms and other lyric parts of the Holy Scripture in use at the Eucharistic celebration.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 14: Simony-Tournon 1840-1916 1913

On either side are similar edifices, a little later in date, but evidently used by the guardian of the monument and for the celebration of the Christian agapae or love-feasts.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux 1840-1916 1913

They were also to invite aged women and probably others as well, to the agapae.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

The two together fulfil His [Greek: * krisis*] and [Greek: * agapae*].

Val d'Arno John Ruskin 1859

Compare the similar case of fornication, combined with a similar idolatrous compromise, after the pattern of Israel with the Midianites (Re 2: 14). no not to eat -- not to sit at the same table with such; whether at the love-feasts (agapae) or in private intercourse, much more at the Lord's table: at the last, too often now the guests "are not as children in one family, but like a heterogeneous crowd of strangers in an inn"

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

The Sacrifice of the Mass has always occupied the foremost place among prayers for the dead, as will be seen from the testimonies quoted above; but in addition to the Mass and to private prayers, we have mention in the earliest times of almsgiving, especially in connection with funeral agapae, and of fasting for the dead (Kirsch,

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

I, 148)] were memorial cellae constructed primarily as places for the celebration of the funeral agapae or anniversaries by friends of the deceased, when the oblatio pro dormitione, or Mass for the dead, was offered.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux 1840-1916 1913

Augustine, "substituted your agapae for the sacrifices of the pagans; for their idols your martyrs, whom you serve with the very same honors.

History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science John William Draper 1846