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The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the gifts and the . As the ministers prepare the altar, representatives of the people bring forward the bread and wine that will become the Body and . The celebrant blesses and praises God for these gifts and places them on the altar, the place of the Eucharistic sacrifice. In addition to the bread and wine, monetary gifts for the support of the and the care of the poor may be brought forward. The Prayer over the Offerings concludes this preparation and disposes all for the Eucharistic Prayer.

Prayer for Life

The Eucharistic Prayer is the heart of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In this prayer, the celebrant acts in the person of Christ as head of his body, the Church. He gathers not only the bread and the wine, but the substance of our lives and joins them to Christ’s perfect sacrifice, offering them to the Father.

The introductory dialogue, the Church at Mass. of all, although our offering is establishes that this prayer in itself imperfect, joined with is the prayer of the baptized The priest offers the Eucharistic the offering of Christ it becomes and ordained, is offered in Prayer in the first-person plural, perfect praise and thanksgiving the presence of God, and has for example, “Therefore, O Lord, to the Father. thanksgiving as its central focus. we humbly implore you…” This Following this dialogue, the “we” signifies that all the baptized The General Instruction of the celebrant begins the . present at the Eucharistic (no. 79) provides celebration make the sacrificial the following summary of the The Eucharistic Prayers make offering in union with Christ Eucharistic Prayer: clear that these prayers are and pray the Eucharistic Prayer The main elements of which offered, not to Christ, but to the in union with him. And what the Eucharistic Prayer consists Father. It is worship offered to is most important, we do not may be distinguished from one the Father by Christ as it was offer Christ alone; we are called another in this way: at the moment of his passion, to offer ourselves, our lives, our death and resurrection, but now individual efforts to grow more a) The thanksgiving (expressed it is offered through the priest like Christ and our efforts as a especially in the Preface), in acting in the person of Christ, community of believers to spread which the Priest, in the name and it is offered as well by all God’s Word and to serve God’s of the whole of the holy people, of the baptized, who are part of people, to the Father in union glorifies God the Father and Christ’s Body, the Church. This with Christ through the hands gives thanks to him for the is the action of Christ’s Body, of the priest. Most wonderful whole work of salvation or for 1 CATECHETICAL CORNER

some particular aspect of it, h) The concluding , by according to the varying day, e) The anamnesis, by which which the glorification of God festivity, or time of year. the Church, fulfilling the is expressed, and which is command that she received affirmed and concluded by the b) The acclamation, by which from Christ the Lord through people’s acclamation “Amen.” the whole congregation, the Apostles, celebrates the joining with the heavenly memorial of Christ, recalling Rite powers, sings the (Holy, especially his blessed Passion, Holy, Holy). This acclamation, glorious Resurrection, and The Communion Rite follows the which constitutes part Ascension into heaven. Eucharistic Prayer, leading the of the Eucharistic Prayer faithful to the Eucharistic table. itself, is pronounced by all f) The , by which, the people with the Priest. in this very memorial, the The rite begins with the Lord’s Church, in particular that Prayer. taught this prayer c) The , in which, gathered here and now, offers to his disciples when they asked by means of particular the unblemished sacrificial how to pray (cf. Mt 6:9-13, Lk invocations, the Church Victim in the Holy Spirit to 11:2-4). In this prayer, the people implores the power of the Holy the Father. The Church’s join their voices to pray for the Spirit that the gifts offered by intention, indeed, is that the coming of God’s kingdom and to human hands be consecrated, faithful not only offer this ask God to provide for our needs, that is, become Christ’s unblemished sacrificial Victim forgive our sins, and bring us to Body and Blood, and that but also learn to offer their the joy of heaven. the unblemished sacrificial very selves,and so day by Victim to be consumed in day to be brought, through The Rite of Peace follows. The Communion may be for the the mediation of Christ, into celebrant prays that the peace salvation of those who will unity with God and with each of Christ will fill our hearts, partake of it. other, so that God may at last our families, our Church, our be all in all. communities, and our world. d) The Institution narrative As a sign of hope, the people and , by which, g) The intercessions, by which extend to those around them a by means of the words expression is given to the sign of peace. and actions of Christ, that fact that the Eucharist is Sacrifice is effected which celebrated in communion with In the Rite, the celebrant Christ himself instituted the whole Church, of both breaks the consecrated bread during the , when heaven and of earth, and that as the people sing the Agnus he offered his Body and Blood the oblation is made for her Dei or “Lamb of God.” John under the species of bread and for all her members, living the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as and wine, gave them to the and dead, who are called to “the Lamb of God who takes Apostles to eat and drink, participate in the redemption away the sin of the world” (Jn and leaving with the latter and salvation purchased by 1:29). The action of breaking the command to perpetuate the Body and Blood of Christ. the bread recalls the actions of this same mystery. Jesus at the Last Supper, when 2 CATECHETICAL CORNER he broke the bread before giving Because sharing at the of Christ.” The person receiving it to his disciples. One of the Eucharistic Table is a sign of responds by saying, “Amen,” earliest names for the Eucharistic unity in the , only a Hebrew word meaning, “So celebration is the breaking of the those in communion with the be it” (Catechism of the Catholic bread (Lk 24:35; Acts 2:42, 46). may receive Church, 2856). Holy Communion. To invite Before receiving Holy others present to receive Holy As the people receive Holy Communion, the celebrant and Communion implies a unity which Communion, the communion assembly acknowledge their does not exist. Those who do chant/song is sung. The unity unworthiness to receive so great not receive Holy Communion still of voices echoes the unity the a gift. The celebrant receives participate in this rite by praying Eucharist brings. All may spend Holy Communion first and then for unity with Christ and with some time in silent prayer of the people come forward. each other. thanksgiving as well.

Those who receive Holy The people approach the altar The Communion Rite ends with Communion should be prepared and, bowing with reverence, the Prayer after Communion to receive so great a gift. receive Holy Communion. which asks that the benefits of They should fast (except for People may receive the Body of the Eucharist will remain active medicines) for at least one hour Christ either on the tongue or in our daily lives. before receiving the Eucharist in the hand. The priest or other and should not be conscious of minister offers the Eucharist to having committed serious sin. each person saying, “The Body

Catholic This is part of a four-part series on what happens during the different parts of the Mass. Current Copyright © 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC. All rights reserved. Image: CNS photo/Kerry Myers, Catholic Weekly 3