Musings of a Catholic

Do what ever He tells you (Jn 2:5)

The Anamesis (Memorial)

The “anamesis” is the part of the Eucharistic Prayer that recalls to God the Father the sacrifice of His Son, who has been crucified for our salvation. We remind the Father of His love for His Son and for us. As with the consecration this memory is more than just remembering the facts. It is making “present” the events.

Then with hands extended, the priest says:

Father we celebrate the memory of Christ,
your Son.
We, your people and
your ministers,
recall his passion,
his resurrection from the dead,
and his ascension into glory;
and from the many gifts
you have given us
we offer to you, God of
glory and majesty,
this holy and perfect sacrifice;
the bread of life
and the cup of eternal salvation.
Look with favor on these offerings
and accept them as once
you accepted
the gifts of your servant Abel,
the sacrifice of Abraham,
our father in faith,
and the bread and wine
offered by your priest Melchisedech.

Epiclesis

Bowing with hands joined. The priest continues:

Almighty God,
we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your alter in heaven.
Then, as we receive from this alter
the sacred body and blood of your Son.

The priest stands up straight and makes the sign of the cross, saying:

Let us be filled with every grace and blessing.

He joins his hands.

[Through Christ our Lord. Amen]


Intercessions

The intercessions made at this point in the Eucharistic Prayer make it clear that the Mass is celebrated in union with the entire Church. This includes those who have lived and died in Christ. Some members of the Church such as the pope and the local bishop are remember by name while the other are remembered in general. We can make this our own prayer by praying the Eucharistic prayer with the priest and praying specifically for those we care for. During the first Epiclesis the priest pauses to let us pray for the living. During the intercessions he pauses to allow us to pray for those whom have died that we want to remember in prayer.

With hands extended the priest says:

Remember, Lord, those who have died
and have gone before us marked
with the sign of faith,
especially those for whom we now pray, N. and N.

The priest prays for them briefly with joined hands. Then with hands extended, he continues:

May these, and all who sleep in Christ,
find in your presence
light, happiness, and peace.

He joins his hands

[Through Christ our Lord. Amen]

With hands extended, he continues:

For ourselves, too, we ask
some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs,
with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas,
[Ignatius, Alexander,
Marcellinus, Peter,
Felicity, Perpetua,
Agatha, Lucy,
Agnus, Cecilia, Anastasia]
and all the saints

The priest strikes his breast with his right hand, saying:

Though we are sinners,
we trust in your mercy and love.

With hands extended as before he continues:

Do not consider what we truly deserve,
but grant us your forgiveness.

He joins his hands.

Through Christ our Lord.

He continues:

Through him you give us all these gifts.
You fill them with life and goodness,
you bless them and make them holy.

The Great Doxology

Every Eucharistic Prayer ends with the Great Doxology singing praise to God. In the doxology we ask that all glory and honor may be given to God in the Holy Spirit through, with and in Jesus Christ. When the faithful proclaim the great amen at the conclusion of the doxology they are solemnly proclaiming faith in all that has gone before in the Eucharistic prayer. Usually the great amen is sung. The faithful stand as they sing it giving assent to what they are singing by their change in posture.

The priest then takes up the chalice and the paten with the host and, lifting them up, sings or says:

Through him,
with him,
in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours,
almighty Father,
for ever and ever.

The people respond;

Amen

Then Stand

The Communion Rite

The Communion Rite begins with the priest inviting the faithful to pray the “Our Father.” When we pray the “Our Father” at this particular time it takes on some special meanings. Our request for “daily bread” takes on the meaning of the Bread of Life which we are about to receive. We also have just finished receiving our daily bread in the readings we heard during the Liturgy of the Word.

Our prayer to be delivered from evil and saved from temptation helps us prepare for Holy Communion. Saint Augustine said “The Our Father is like washing our face before we go to the alter.”

Having concluded the Eucharistic Prayer the priest puts down the chalice and paten and,with hands joined, sings or says:

Let us pray with confidence to the Father
in the words our Savior gave us

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

LESSON THREE

Part Two

REVISED At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

He extends his hands and continues with the people saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hollowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

With hands extended, the priest continues alone:

Deliver us Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free from sin
and protect us from all anxiety
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

REVISED Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

He then joins his hands for the doxology.
The people end the prayer with:

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.

At the present time the people do many different things with their hands during the praying of the Our Father. Some hold hands with those around them, some raise their hands, and others fold their hands as in prayer. The rubrics do not specify which is correct, consequently people are free to do what they are comfortable with. We should keep in mind that people cannot be required to join hands.

Rite of Peace

At the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer the priest prays a prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ recalling the words of peace that Christ spoke to His apostles in the Upper room after his resurrection - “Peace be with you.” In this prayer the priest is asking God to provide us with that peace only He can provide. At the same time because of the location of this prayer in the Mass we are reminded how we need to be reconciled with each other prior to receiving the Eucharist.

After the chalice and paten has been set down, the priest with his hands joined says:

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your Apostles:
I leave you peace, my peace I give you.
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom

He joins his hands

where you live for ever and ever.

The people respond

Amen.

The priest extending and joining his hands, adds:

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

The people answer:

And also with you.

The deacon or priest may add:

Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

Then the people offer each other the appropriate sign of peace. Note that the offering of the sign of peace is an option the priest has, and may not always include it in the Mass.

REVISED Then the priest with hands extended, says allowed: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. He joins his hands. Who live and reign for ever and ever. The people reply: Amen The Priest, turned towards the people, extending and then joining his hands, adds: The peace of the lord be with you always. The people reply: And with your spirit. Then if appropriate, the deacon, or priest adds; Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

 

Increase Your Understanding

If you would like to receive feedback from me copy and paste the questions into your e-mail, answer them and send to me at mass1@musingsofacatholic.com

1. What is the “Anamesis?”

2. How can we make the “Intercession” our own?

3. What is the “Doxology?”

4. What are we saying amen to at the end of the Eucharistic prayer?

5. The Jewish and Christian sense of “memorial” makes an event present. How does
understanding this truth change the way you experience the Eucharistic prayer at Mass?

6. When we pray the “Our father” at Mass what are we asking for when we say “our daily bread?”

7. What should we be reminded of during the sign of peace?

The Breaking of the Bread (The Fraction)

After the sign of peace the priest takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a small peace in the chalice, saying quietly:

May the mingling of the Body and Blood
of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.

The breaking of the bread is one of the most ancient rites of the Mass. Christ at the last supper broke the bread and gave it to his apostles using the formulation the Priest used during the consecration of the bread earlier in the Mass. Saint Paul reflects on the meaning of the breaking of the bread in his first letter to the Corinthians.

The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the Body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

While the Eucharistic bread is being broken we sing or say the “Lamb of God”

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
have mercy on us

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
have mercy on us

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
grant us peace.

This ancient rite of mingling the Body and Blood of Christ has come to symbolize the Unity of Christ.  The Church has always taught that those who do not drink from the chalice still receive the whole Christ - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. In the same way those who only drink from the chalice partake of the whole Christ.  Besides symbolizing the unity of the Church this mingling of the body and blood of Christ symbolizes Christ's Resurrection. Remember the separate consecration of the bread and wine was symbolic of his death on the cross. Now the two are joined representing His Resurrection

Holy Communion

The priest then prepares himself to receive Holy Communion by quietly praying:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit your death brought life to the world. By your holy body and blood free me from all my sins, and from every evil. Keep me faithful to your teaching, and never let me be parted from you.

Or:

Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in your love and mercy I eat your body and drink your blood. Let it not bring me condemnation, but health in mind and body.

REVISED Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, through your death gave live to the world; free me by this your most holy Body and Blood from all my sins and from every evil; keep me always faithful to your commandments, and never let me be parted from you. Or: May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving mercy be for me protection in mind and body, and a healing remedy.

Then the priest genuflects. Taking the host and holding it slightly raised above the paten or the chalice says aloud:

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are those who are called to his supper.

Then together with the people the priest says:

Lord I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.
 
The above exchange should remind us of several sections of scripture.  The first sentence the priest says “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” are the words of John the Baptist to his disciples at the Jordan river before he baptizes Jesus. We are reminded we are about to receive the one who died for our sins. Just a few minutes previously we had participated in the re-presentation of his crucifixion. The second sentence “Happy are those who are called to his supper. These are the words the angel spoke to Saint John in the Book of Revelation 19:9. We are reminded that His death has made it possible for us to sit at the heavenly banquet in the Kingdom of heaven. When we answer the priest with the words based on those of the centurion  in Luke 7: 6-7 “Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed” we are in a very real sense taking part in the heavenly banquet.  Like the Centurion we know we are not worthy for Jesus to enter into us. The only way He can enter into us is because we can trust in His great mercy.
Facing the alter the priest says quietly;

May the body of Christ bring me to everlasting life.

He reverently consumes the Body of Christ.
Then he takes the chalice and says inaudibly:

May the blood of Christ bring me to everlasting life.

Then he reverently drinks the Blood of Christ.

Behold the Lamb of God, Behold him who takes away the sin of the world, Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. And together with the people he adds once: Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under the roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. The priest facing the alter says quietly: May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life. And he reverently consumes the Body of Christ. Then he takes the chalice and says quietly: May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life. And he reverently consumes the Blood of Christ.

The priest then precedes to give communion to each person. If the size of those attending mass is such that more than the priest or priest and deacon can serve in a reasonable period of time Eucharistic ministers may be used to assist in the distribution of the body and blood of Christ.

When the priest or Eucharistic minister distributes the host it is raised slightly and the priest or  minister says:

The Body of Christ.

The communicant answers:

Amen.

When the chalice is presented the deacon or Eucharistic minister holds the chalice up and says:

The Blood of Christ.

The communicant answers:

Amen

When the distribution of communion is over, the priest or a deacon or an acolyte purifies the paten over the chalice and also the chalice itself.

While he carries out the purification, the priest says quietly:

Lord may I receive these gifts in purity of heart.  May they bring me healing and strength, now and forever.

REVISED What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given us in time may be our healing for eternity.

Then the priest returns to his chair.  If appropriate, a sacred silence may be observed for a while, or a psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung.

Preparation to receive Communion

As we prepare for the reception of the Eucharist we should keep in mind the invitation the Lord has given us “Truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his Blood,you have no life in you” (John 6:53). We should also not forget the words of Saint Paul “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let a man examen himself, and so eat of the bread and drink the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the Body eats and drinks judgment upon himself” (1Cor. 11:27-29). God wants us to participate in his Body and Blood as often as we can. In fact He tells us if we do not Eat of His Body and Blood we will not have eternal life with Him. At the same time Saint Paul reminds us that if we partake in an unworthy manner we will be guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of the Lord. This is a grave sin. 

The Lord offers us the great gift of Himself.  When we walk up to receive Him in the Eucharist do we realize what we are doing. If we were going to meet a great person we would do some preparation, yet when we are going to be united with the Lord we often hardly even think about it. The Church in her wisdom gives us some requirements for receiving the Eucharist, but they are really just the minimum. What really counts is the disposition of our heart. Besides meeting the requirements for receiving Holy Communion we should spend some time prior to mass preparing ourselves. I have provided several prayers to aid you in appendix B.

Required Disposition For Receiving the Eucharist 1. Be in the state of grace.  We must not be conscious of any unconfessed grave sin. 2. Observe the one hour fast from food and drink (except for water and medicine). The Catechism of the catholic Church adds the following: “Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.”

Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.

We have seen two processions so far in the Mass. The first the procession of the priest and ministers entering the church. The second the gifts being brought to the alter. Now those intending to receive the Eucharist proceed toward the alter.  As we proceed toward the alter we should walk in a solemn manner, hands folded contemplating the great moment that is about to take place - We are to be united Christ.  Prior to receiving communion we should bow as a sign of reverence toward the Eucharistic Lord.

In the United states we can receive the Blessed Sacrament on the tongue, or in the hand. In some countries communicants can only receive on the tongue. Throughout the centuries both methods have been the proscribed way of receiving.  Regardless of the way we receive we should receive it reverently. If you receive on the tongue, open your mouth and extend your tongue in a reverent way, allowing the host to be placed there before closing your mouth. If you receive the Eucharist in your hand, hold your hand open, making a throne for the Sacrament to be placed in. Then take the host from your hand and place it in your mouth. The Eucharist is to be consumed immediately.

If you receive from the cup, bow and allow the minister of the cup to present the cup to you. Never grab the cup from the minister. Drink a little and then hand it back to the minister. After receiving the Eucharist walk back to your seat in a reverent manner.

Contemplating the Fruits of the Eucharist.
 
If there is singing during communion we should participate to show our unity with the rest of the Church. We should also spend time contemplating the Fruits of Holy Communion.  If possible stay after Mass and contemplate the fruits and say a few prayers. The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists the following fruits of Holy Communion:

Holy Communion augments our union with Christ.  The principle fruit of  receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus. (No. 1391)

What the material food produces in our bodily life, Holy Communion wonderfully achieves in our spiritual life. (No. 1392)

Holy Communion separates us from sin (No. 1393)

As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life. (No. 1394)

By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. The more we share in the life of Christ and progress in His friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from Him by mortal sin. (No. 1395)

The unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes the Church. Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ. Through it Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body - the Church. (No. 1396)

The Eucharist commits us to the poor. (No. 1397)

The Eucharist and the Unity of Christians. (No. 1398)  Holy Communion should make us painfully aware of the divisions that exist in the Body of Christ and bring us to pray for unity.

Prayer After Communion

The priest then stands at his chair and says let us pray.  He then says the prayer after communion indicated for that day in the Lectionary.

At the conclusion the people respond:

Amen.

Concluding Rite

If there are any brief announcements they are made at this time.

After the announcements, if any, the priest extends his hands and says or sings:

The Lord be with you.

The people answer:

And also with you.

The priest blesses the people with these words:

May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The people answer:

Amen.

REVISED After the announcements, if any, the priest extends his hands and says or sings: The Lord be with you. The people answer: And with your spirit The priest blesses the people with these words: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The people answer: Amen.

Dismissal

The dismissal sends each member of the congregation to do good works, praising and blessing the Lord.

The deacon or priest with hands extended says one of the following:

Go in the peace of Christ.

Or:

The Mass is ended, go in peace.

Or:

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

The people respond:

Thanks be to God.

REVISED The deacon or priest with hands extended says one of the following: Go forth, the Mass is ended. Or: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord. Or: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life. Or: Go in peace. The people reply: Thanks be to God.

Then the priest venerates the alter as usual with a kiss, as at the beginning. After making a profound bow he leaves.

The concluding rites consist of a blessing and a dismissal. Pope John Paul II in his Encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, reflects on the meaning of the dismissal.

Certainly the Christian vision leads to the expectation of the “new heavens” and a “new earth” (Rev. 21:1), but this increases, rather than lessens, our sense of responsibility for the world today. I wish to affirm this forcefully at the beginning of the new millennium, so that Christians will feel more obliged than ever not to neglect their duties as citizens in this world. Theirs is the task of contributing with the light of the Gospel to the building of a more human world, a world fully in harmony with Gods plan.

Just because we have been dismissed does not mean that we need to rush out of the church. In fact, remembering that we have just received the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord maybe we should spend some additional time in prayer with Him. This is a great time to meditate on the fruits of Holy Communion and/or pray one or more of the many after Mass prayers. See appendix B.

When we do leave the church we should keep in mind that the Lord is still present and others may be praying. If at all possible we should show respect for the Lord and others by maintaining silence while in the sanctuary.

Increase your Understanding

1.What is the symbolism of the “Breaking of the Bread?”

2.What does the priest ask for in the prayer he prays while placing a small piece of the Eucharist into the chalice containing the precious Blood?

3.What symbolizes Christ's death on the cross?

4.What action of the priest represents Christ's resurrection?

5.What is the required disposition to receive Holy Communion?

6.According to the Catechism of the catholic Church what are the “fruits of Holy Communion?”

7.What are we asked to do when we are dismissed from the mass?

8.Why is it good to stay for a short time after the conclusion of the Mass?

Let us pray.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in the fire of your love.  Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations.  Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.