THE PARTS OF THE EUCHARIST

Saint Justin indicates that it was the task of the presider in Rome in the middle of the second century to pray the Eucharistic prayer as he is able. This means that the prayer began as an oral prayer. A set text would come later. Oral prayer has a format. The Eucharistic prayer is rooted in Jewish table blessings and the thanksgiving prayers of the Psalms. The Roman presider, praying in a house church, would have learned the pattern of thanksgiving prayer and public praise. This required not only fidelity to traditional form, but also the ability to craft public prayer.

For centuries the only Eucharistic prayer used in the Roman Mass was the Roman Eucharistic prayer. It is listed as prayer one in the section devoted to Eucharistic prayers in the Sacramentary. The nature of Roman ritual prayers is that they are simple, streamlined, even austere. Eastern Catholic Churches are more elaborate in ritual and more expressive in their Eucharistic prayers. This is clear if one looks at Eucharistic prayer four in the Sacramentary.

No one Eucharistic prayer totally expresses the Paschal mystery. Like a precious jewel that reveals a many sided beauty, each Eucharistic prayer reveals another layer of meaning to the table sharing we do. Today the Roman ritual tradition uses ten Eucharistic prayers. The variety of Eucharistic prayers is meant to enrich an Assembly's prayer and its appreciation of the mystery that transforms us into the Body of Christ. Future columns will comment on these prayers.

I list the chief elements of the prayers below. I realize that this is skeletal without the text of a Eucharistic prayer. To help this make sense, take Eucharistic prayer two and match the parts with the text.

The parts of the Eucharistic prayer are the following:

1. The opening dialogue and the prayer of thanksgiving for creation and salvation.

2. The acclamation from the prophet Isaiah. Holy, holy, holy Lord, etc. is the sung or recited acclamation of the entire Assembly.

3. The invocation of the Spirit. The Assembly , through the presider's prayer, asks the Spirit to come down and consecrate the bread and the cup. The name of the prayer is the epiclesis, a Greek word which means to call down.

4. The institution narrative and consecration that repeats the words of Jesus at the Last Supper. The Assembly responds with an acclamation.

5. The memorial prayer which recalls Christ's passion, resurrection, and ascension. The name of the prayer is the anamnesis, a Greek word which means to make memory.

6. The offering of this memorial unites the Assembly to God and to one another.

7. The intercessions follow as the Assembly joins with the living and the dead.

8. The final section accompanies a gesture. The bread and cup are raised up as the presider prays the doxology, the word of praise.

This is the climactic moment of the prayer. The Assembly responds by singing the great Amen.