In an age of ever-greater academic specialisation, it may appear outdated for a single author to offer a history of the basic structure and ritual shape of the Roman Mass, which aspires to begin with the Last Supper and the origins of the Eucharist and constructs a narrative through centuries of intense religious, social and cultural transformations to conclude with the aftermath of the Council of Trent. My chosen topic is vast and intricate, and its manifold aspects have been treated in depth by a plethora of scholars in the last few decades. Such a broad subject may, it might be argued, be better considered in a companion or handbook, which would incorporate chapters from a range of contributors with well-defined expertise.