Copyright © 1999 by

Rick Swenton
106 Melinda Lane
Bristol, CT 06010-7199
All Rights Reserved

Permission is granted for use of this work in parish liturgy or music programs in a non-commercial setting provided that no fee is charged and that this copyright notice remains on all copies.

The Eucharistic Prayer
1/18/1999

The Mass is a banquet, a sacrifice, a song of praise, a prayer of thanksgiving.  The first part of the Mass is called the Liturgy of the Word.  This is where we experience Christ in the sacred scriptures.  The second part of the Mass is called the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  The high point of this part of the Mass is the Eucharistic Prayer, where the consecration takes place.

The Eucharistic Prayer was previously called the Canon of the Mass. The reforms of the Second Vatican Council changed the Eucharistic Prayer to allow the assembly to respond more frequently to the presider during the celebration of the Mystery of salvation.

Just before the actual Eucharistic Prayer

• Introductory dialogue. (Lift up your hearts and give thanks.)
  

• Acclamation. (Holy, Holy)

The Eucharistic Prayer

• Preface
  

• Epiclesis (invoking God’s name during a blessing) – pray that the offerings through the power of God and the Holy Spirit may be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.
  

• Consecration (Institution Narrative) using the words of the Last Supper.
  

• Mystery of Faith – Memorial Acclamation from the assembly.
  

• Anamnesis – Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension.
  

• Epiclesis – petition that communicants are joined more fully in the Mystery of death and resurrection of Jesus. The "sending" of the Holy Spirit on our behalf.
  

• Intercessions – we pray for the living and the dead.
  

• Doxology – prayer of adoration of the Trinity.
  

• Acclamation - Final Amen response from the assembly.

We gather around the table where bread and wine – by their beauty and presence – evoke memories of Jesus and of all of God’s love for us. The prayers come from the presider but it is the prayer and doing of the whole church present. The Eucharistic Prayer is the center of the entire celebration. It is a joyous ritual celebration. The Holy Spirit first recalls the meaning of the salvation event to the liturgical assembly by giving life to the Word of God, which is proclaimed so that it may be received and lived. It becomes a living relationship with Christ, the Word and Image of the Father. What we hear, contemplate and do in the celebration we then live in our lives. It not only recalls the events that saved us but actualizes them, makes them present. The Paschal Mystery of Christ is celebrated, not repeated. It exhibits a more inclusive role for the Holy Spirit in the act of Transubstantiation.

Current patterns of posture and speech incorrectly make it seem that adoration, reading acclamations from a booklet and being spectators are the people’s part. The assembly should enter into joyful celebration with the presider during this important prayer.

Currently, the bishops in the United States call for a posture of kneeling during the prayer with pastoral exceptions permitted. Kneeling is a posture of reverence and penitence, not of joyous celebration, proclamation and acclamation. We have a lot of work to do.

Ultimately it is catechesis that leads to transformation of men and women. Transformation brings us to conversion. "Lex orandi, lex credendi." [the principles of our prayer are the principles of our faith – or What we pray is what we believe.