The Mass: Liturgy of the Eucharist - Part V

Last week, in our study of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we discussed the offering of bread and wine. We are approaching a very important part of this section of the Mass, the Eucharistic Prayer. But before the main body of the Eucharistic Prayer is said, introductory elements are prayed.

At this point in the Mass, we have already stood up, and the celebrant says, “The Lord be with you,” to which we reply, “And with your spirit.” We are invited to lift up not simply our bodies, but our hearts to the Lord as well. Here is a great example in the Mass of our posture being related to what we are saying and praying.

The priest then prays the Preface. There are many Prefaces prescribed in the Roman Missal, and the priest has a fair amount of latitude over which one he chooses. The Prefaces are arranged by liturgical season, and there are also ones for certain feast days, saints days, and Masses for the dead. While the words prayed are different, the structure and intent are the same in each. The priest states that it is right and just to give praise to the Father through Jesus. Then there is typically a reference to some aspect of the Paschal Mystery, that is, the mystery of Christ’s coming into the world as flesh, and dying for our salvation.

The Preface then gives us the opportunity to join together in the Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy …”), in which we acclaim that both heaven and earth are full of God’s glory. We use that great word “Hosanna,” originally a cry for help found in the Old Testament, now a word of praise and thanksgiving that saving help comes through our Lord Jesus Christ, and his Real Presence in the Eucharist.

“In the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, a minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle.” – Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 8.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact me at eucharist@stmli.org.