The Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving

	Fourth of a six-part series
	Related articles ... October 31, 2003 issue: • Part three of six: --     The Altar, the Cross and the Book October 24, 2003 issue: • Part two of six: --     Why make any revisions in the Mass? October 17, 2003 issue: • Part one of six: --     How to enrich our experience of Mass • Compass Editorial --     Focusing on Instruction August 22, 2003 issue: • Bishop Banks' Corner --     The church's source of energy August 8, 2003 issue: • Bishop Banks' Corner --     Current Mass links us to Apostles

By Diann Wimmer
Diocesan Director of Worship

At the heart of the Mass stands the great prayer of Christianity: The Eucharistic Prayer, starting with the words, "Lift up your hearts" and continuing to the singing of the Great Amen.

In this article, we will address the significance of this ancient, yet ever new, prayer. We will also note that the Bishops of the United States made a specific choice for the posture of the assembly during the Eucharistic Prayer.

In the bones of humanity: The Eucharistic Prayer has ancient roots in the history of worship. Primitive nomads in ancient Israel offered the best of their lambs in a festival of praise and thanksgiving, the Pesach/Passover. Later when people settled on the farmlands, they offered the best of their wheat and grapes with blessing prayers (berakah) over bread and wine. (Today, the harvest festival is called Sukkot.) These festivals, along with the Supper of the Lord, are examples of the roots of our Eucharistic Prayer. Therefore, our coming every Sunday to give thanks and praise to God for marvelous deeds is a response from deep within the bones of humanity.

Take, Bless, Break and Give is the fourfold ritual action with bread and wine. Catholics present their gifts of bread, wine and monetary gifts. Then the priest, in the name of the assembly, calls down the Holy Spirit to sanctify the gifts so that they may become the Body and Blood of Christ. The prayer also includes a remembrance of the communion of saints, prayers for those who have died and petitions asking for God's help and grace.

Act of adoration: The Eucharistic Prayer is an act of adoration. Several postures are appropriate for the Eucharistic Prayer. The Bishops of the United States chose kneeling as the posture of the assembly following the Holy, Holy until after the great Amen. There will be exceptions to this norm when people are prevented by reason of health, lack of space, a large number of people participating or some other good reason. If the assembly stands during the Eucharistic Prayer, they make a profound bow when the priest genuflects at the consecration. Churches without kneelers are asked to begin planning for provision of kneelers. No one in the Diocese of Green Bay is required to kneel on the floor at any time.

Catholics are privileged to inherit the Eucharistic Prayer from ancestors and Christians who developed the prayer over 2,000 years. Robert Zaehner, a scholar of world religions, said that Christianity's most significant contribution is its preservation of the blessing prayers over bread and wine. Let us be "devoted to the breaking of the bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). As did the generations before us, let us honor the Eucharistic Prayer as the greatest gift of Christianity.

Next week, I will continue with further changes in the Communion rite.

If you have specific questions about the Mass or the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, e-mail them to dwimmer@gbdioc.org or call 877-500-3580, ext. 8311.