Day 84 – Mrs. Flusche’s Super Basic Primer on the Mass (Part XV)

Monday, June 8, 2020 –

Yesterday we started talking about the Liturgy of the Eucharist in the Novus Ordo and saw that there was a lot missing in the New Mass vs. the Traditional Latin Mass in terms of the prayers said over the gifts. Today we continue with the Liturgy of the Eucharist: the Consecration. In this section we start to see choices.

Whereas the TLM has a single Canon that remained largely unchanged for over 1,000 years, the NO has options for the Eucharistic Prayer and a few other parts. It really boils down to which of the four Eucharistic Prayers the Priest uses. Basically, once he selects a number, the rest of the changes follow suit.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist: The Consecration

Eucharistic Prayer – “Now the center and high point of the entire celebration begins, namely, the Eucharistic Prayer itself, that is, the prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification.” (GIRM, 78). Unlike the TLM, the NO has four Eucharistic prayers…and that is discussion for a separate series of posts. Just know that this part of the Mass is a little bit like a “select-a-quest” for the Priest.

Preface: this part actually didn’t change, except for the fact that it changes based on the day or type of Mass (i.e. for the Most Holy Trinity, for the Blessed Virgin Mary, for Saint Joseph, etc.)…UNLESS it doesn’t change because the Priest opts to say Eucharistic Prayer II or IV, which have their own set Preface! WOOT! Score one point for Mass confusion! The Preface is a hymn / prayer, of thanksgiving and praise. It introduces us to the Canon; it prefaces (goes before) the Canon. To be clear, only Eucharistic Prayer I can rightly be called the Canon. The rest are just Eucharistic Prayers II through IV.
Holy, Holy, Holy: also doesn’t change! Seriously, this is 100% the same, just said/sung in the vernacular (AKA your language). YAY! this is the “Sanctus” hymn of the angels. Sanctus is Latin for “holy.” It always follows the Preface. Bells are rung to tell us to kneel and pay attention.
First half of prayer, including Consecration: THIS is where the four different Eucharistic Prayers happen. Well, the first half, anyway. Within this section you have two main parts: the Epiclesis and the Consecration.
1. The Epiclesis: a prayer petitioning (asking) God the Father to send the Holy Spirit to sanctify the bread and wine so they may become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. Yes, this too changes…
2. The Consecration: the Priest prays the Lord’s words of the Institution Narrative from the Last Supper (“This is my Body.” and “This is my Blood.” SEE BELOW). The bread and wine BECOME the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. Oddly enough, even this changes a little based on which of the four Eucharistic Prayers the Priest is using.
  - These two parts DO NOT CHANGE, no matter which Eucharistic Prayer is being used:
  - “TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT: FOR THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.”
  - “TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT: FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.”
Mystery of Faith: also called the Mysterium Fidei or Memorial Acclamation. There are three options, but you will probably say A most often:
1. A – “We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.”
2. B – “When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.”
3. C – “Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.”
Second half of prayer, ending with Doxology: this includes the Anamnesis, Oblation, Intercessions, and Final Doxology. This is where the second half of the four Eucharistic Prayers happen. Again, all of these change based on which Eucharistic Prayer the Priest uses, except for the Doxology, which stays the same for all four.
1. Anamnesis: from the Greek word for “remembrance.” “[T]he Church…celebrates the memorial of Christ, recalling especially his blessed Passion, glorious Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven.” (GIRM, 79e)
2. Oblation: meaning “offering.” “The oblation, by which, in this very memorial, the Church, in particular that gathered here and now, offers the unblemished sacrificial Victim in the Holy Spirit to the Father.” (GIRM, 79f) This short prayer offers the unblemished Sacrifice (the Body and Blood, the Eucharist), to the Father, through the Holy Ghost.
3. Intercessions: This prayer says that the Sacrifice is for the whole Church, and we ask for the prayers of the Saints. “The intercessions, by which expression is given to the fact that the Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the whole Church, of both heaven and of earth, and that the oblation is made for her and for all her members, living and dead, who are called to participate in the redemption and salvation purchased by the Body and Blood of Christ.” (GIRM, 79g)
4. Final Doxology: “the glorification of God is expressed and which is affirmed and concluded by the people’s acclamation Amen.” (GIRM, 79h) We praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!