4. Liturgy of the Eucharist

While the Liturgy of the Word focused upon the table of the word - the lectern, the liturgy of the Eucharist centers upon the altar - both a place of sacrifice as well as the table from which we are fed. The themes of sacrifice, thanksgiving and meal dominate.  The preparation of the Gifts and the Altar, the Eucharistic Prayer and the Communion Rite constitute this part of the Eucharistic Liturgy.

1.     Different Parts

A.   The Preparation of the Gifts and Altar

The gifts of the people are an important part of the celebration. In the ancient Church, people brought the wine and the bread as well. All these gifts are brought up to the altar. The priest prepares them at the altar saying prayers patterned on the Jewish meal of Passover. He then washes his hands before a short prayer over the gifts.

B.    The Eucharistic Prayer

This is the summit of the Mass. The Eucharistic Prayer begins with a short dialogue and then the priest prays the Preface before the congregation sings “Holy, holy . . .” Then we enter the Eucharistic prayer proper, which is the heart of the Eucharist. The priest has the option of choosing from different Eucharistic Prayers in the Missal. All of them have a pattern, and out of the different parts in it, the Epiclesis and Institution Narrative are of special importance. Epiclesis is the prayer when the priest asks the Father to send down the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The Institution Narrative recalls the words of Jesus Christ at the last supper. The other elements are the Anamnesis, proclaiming the death and resurrection of Jesus, Offering of the consecrated bread and wine to the Father, and the Intercessions. The Eucharistic prayer proper concludes with the final Doxology and Great Amen.    

C. The Communion Rite

The Lord’s Prayer, the Sign of Peace and the Breaking of the Bread precede the actual reception of communion. Communion is usually accompanied by a hymn and followed by a period of silence. This part of the Mass ends with the Prayer after Communion.

2       The Changes

1. Invitation to Prayer

This invitation at the end of offertory will have a few changes. When the priest invites the congregation, “Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty father,” people will respond, “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.” 

2.  Preface Dialogue

The response to the priest’s greeting “The Lord be with you” will be consistent, “And with your spirit.” When the celebrant asks the people, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,” the people respond “It is right and just.”

3.  Memorial Acclamation

This will be introduced by the priest by the simple phrase “The mystery of faith.”  There are three options to the response of the people and they will remain the same with little changes in wording.

4.  Sign of Peace

When the celebrant greets the people “The peace of the Lord be with you always,” the response is, “And with your spirit.”

5. Invitation to Communion 

The celebrant holding the host slightly raised, says: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” People respond, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

          Most changes in the newly translated Mass will be to this part, the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The prayers that the priest says will have a number of changes in their words. Though it is the same Mass, it is likely to sound different.

Fr. Xavier Thelakkatt

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