TRANSFORMING BREAD AND WINE: THE MYSTERY OF EUCHARIST

We believe that the bread and the wine become the eucharist, the real presence of the Lord for us. We receive holy, consecrated gifts for our nourishment and salvation. We have not always reflected on how or when this occurs during the liturgy.

One tradition, that of the eastern Catholic churches, stresses the role of the Spirit. This heritage focuses on the epiclesis, the prayer which asks the Holy Spirit to come down upon the gifts to transform and consecrate them. Our present prayers reaffirm the Spirit's role. "Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that they may become for us the body and blood of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate this eucharist...Father, may this Holy Spirit sanctify these offerings. Let them become the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord as we celebrate the great mystery which he left us as an everlasting covenant."

The other tradition, the western-Roman tradition, focuses on the words of Jesus first spoken at the Last Supper. Emphasis is placed on the power of the priest to consecrate host and chalice by validly praying the words of Jesus. This emphasis is reinforced by the elevation, especially of the sacred host.

The latter tradition developed from the 11th to the 14th centuries. Latin was no longer the language of the people. Latin took on a mystical, transcendent quality. Gregorian chants, with its hauntingly beautiful sound, conveyed awesome mystery. The priest, with back to the people, stood a great distance from the assembly at a very high altar. He officiated at the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Preaching and popular devotion occurred all the way up to the consecratory moment. Bells were rung to awaken the people's attention. After the priest prayed the words of Jesus, the host was raised on high for the people's adoration and devotion.

The original Roman tradition was to place the bread and the cup on the table. They would not be touched or handled until communion time when the people partook of the eucharist. Eleventh century controversies caused a gestural change. Since people wanted to know when the consecratory moment took place, the consecratory words of Jesus became central. This replaced the entire eucharistic prayer as consecratory. The priest held privileged position. The Spirit's role disappeared. When the laity ceased receiving from the cup (c.1200), the elevation of the host was the highlight of the Mass. The host was admired and adored, but rarely received. Salvation, once connected with eating and drinking the holy meal, depended on reverent adoration.

Individual awe before transcendent mystery is still a value. But it is valued within the context of a communal experience of sharing the holy meal together and of cherishing the active role of the Holy Spirit in the eucharist and in our lives. The Spirit enables our prayer to be a melody raised up unto God so that the wondrous gift of the eucharistic bread and cup can nourish us with profound gratitude and with salvation.