The Mass of Saint Gregory c. 1470

This anonymous woodcut, The Mass of Saint Gregory, probably made in Germany around 1500, vividly conveys a story connected to the Catholic Church. The image captures the legendary moment when Pope Gregory, while celebrating mass, had a vision of Christ appearing on the altar, surrounded by instruments of the Passion like dice, mocking figures, and spears. It’s a powerful endorsement of the Church’s doctrine of transubstantiation, the belief that the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ. Woodcuts like this were relatively cheap to produce and distribute, making religious imagery accessible to a wider audience. It’s fascinating to consider how this image functioned within the religious, social, and political context of the time, particularly in the years leading up to the Reformation. By researching the history of the Catholic Church in Germany, as well as the development of print culture in the early 16th century, we can better understand the meaning and function of this compelling image.