The first three new prayers of the reformed Roman rite represent alternative styles of Eucharistic Prayer on the base, however, of a common underlying structure. Whilst each one is a new text, they are in fact heavily dependent on ancient models; the second is a reworking of a complete ancient anaphora while the third and fourth are new compositions which, however, often reproduce ancient liturgical formulas very closely.
All the new prayers incorporate certain features of the Eastern Christian tradition which had been absent from the Latin Church's liturgical prayer forms, notably a concern for the history of salvation, within the context of creation, and an attention to the "economic" role of the Holy Spirit in that history and in the Church's worship. The specifically "eucharistic" element of thanksgiving is given more place than it has in the Roman Canon, where it was confined to the preface.
| Eucharistic Prayer II | Eucharistic Prayer III | Eucharistic Prayer IV |
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II
The shortest of the new anaphoras, Eucharistic Prayer II is an adaptation of a 3rd century eucharistic prayer found in a document called The Apostolic Tradition and widely attributed to a Roman presbyter named Hippolytus.
The original has been modified both to fit it into the new structure of the Roman prayers and to make it more intelligible to contemporary congregations. This has meant, on the one hand, adding a Sanctus (Holy, Holy..), composing a post-sanctus to facilitate the transition to the epiclesis over the gifts and intercessions, none of which were present in the early prayer, and on the other hand, modifying or dropping certain expressions deemed unsuitable for today's mentality.
Given that the original prayer has had a profound influence in many Christian churches since the 1930s, being taken up and adapted for use very widely, the ecumenical significance of the choice of this prayer is obvious. It facilitates a convergence on the basis of a commonly acceptable model that antedates the division of the churches by more than a millennium.
INTRODUCTORY DIALOGUE
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
PREFACE [Praise to the Lord]
Father, it is our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere
to give you thanks
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
He is the Word through whom you made the universe,
the Savior you sent to redeem us.
By the power of the Holy Spirit
he took flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary.
For our sake he opened his arms on the cross;
he put an end to death
and revealed the resurrection.
In this he fulfilled your will
and won for you a holy people.
And so we join the angels and the saints
in proclaiming your glory
as we sing (say):
SANCTUS
[First Acclamation of the People]
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
[Invocation of the Holy Spirit]
Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness.
Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy,
so that they may become for us
the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Before he was given up to death,
a death he freely accepted,
he took bread and gave you thanks.
He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it.
This is my body
which will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, he took the cup.
Again he gave you thanks and praise,
gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
this is the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.
It will be shed for you and for all
so that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in memory of me.
[Memorial Acclamation]
Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
People:
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Savior of the world.
[The Memorial Prayer]
In memory of his death and resurrection,
we offer you, Father,
this life-giving bread, this saving cup.
We thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
[Invocation of the Holy Spirit]
May all of us who share
in the body and blood of Christ
be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit.
[Intercessions: For the Church]
Lord, remember your Church
throughout the world;
make us grow in love,
together with N. our Pope,
N. our bishop, and all the clergy.
[For the Dead]
Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again; bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence.
[In Communion with the Saints]
Have mercy on us all;
make us worthy to share eternal life
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with the apostles,
and with all the saints
who have done your will throughout the ages.
May we praise you in union with them,
and give you glory
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
[Concluding Doxology]
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.
All reply:
Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER III
The third eucharistic prayer is a new composition that transposes various elements of the Roman Canon (especially its sacrificial emphasis) into the new structure adopted for the reformed rite. At the same time, it fills certain lacunae evident in the Canon, when it is compared to the prayers of the Eastern Christian tradition. Thus the theme of the creation has been introduced, the thanksgiving motif is carried through the prayer beyond the preface, it is Trinitarian and universal in outlook, and mention is made of the Lord's return in the anamnesis.
The prayer has a strongly traditional character echoing passages from ancient anaphoras found in non-Roman Western sources, especially from Spain and Gaul.
The moderate length and richness of content of the prayer is generally felt to recommend it for average Sunday celebrations.
INTRODUCTORY DIALOGUE
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
PREFACE [Praise to the Lord]
[Praise to the Father]
Father, you are holy indeed, and all creation rightly gives you praise. All life, all holiness comes from you through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, by the working of the Holy Spirit. From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name.
[Invocation of the Holy Spirit]
And so, Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them holy by the power of your Spirit, that they may become the body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate this eucharist.
[The Lord's Supper]
On the night he was betrayed he took bread and gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and eat it, this is my body which will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.
[Memorial Acclamation]
Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
People
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.
[The Memorial Prayer]
Father, calling to mind the death your Son endured for our salvation, his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.
Look with favor on your Church's offering, and see the Victim whose death has reconciled us to yourself.
[Invocation of the Holy Spirit]
Grant that we, who are nourished by his body and blood, may be filled with his Holy Spirit, and become one body, one spirit in Christ.
[Intercessions: In Communion with the Saints]
May he make us an everlasting gift to you and enable us to share in the inheritance of your saints, with Mary, the virgin Mother of God; with the apostles, the martyrs, (Saint N.) and all your saints, on whose constant intercession we rely for help.
[For the Church]
Lord, may this sacrifice, which has made our peace with you, advance the peace and salvation of all the world. Strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim Church on earth; your servant, Pope N., our bishop N., and all the bishops, with the clergy and the entire people your Son has gained for you. Father, hear the prayers of the family you have gathered here before you. In mercy and love unite all your children wherever they may be.*
[For the Dead]
Welcome into your kingdom our departed brothers and sisters,
and all who have left this world in your friendship. We hope to enjoy for ever the vision
of your glory, through Christ our Lord, from whom all good things come.
[Concluding Doxology]
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. All reply: Amen.
*In Masses for the Dead the following is said:
Remember N. In baptism he (she) died with Christ: may he (she) also share his resurrection, when Christ will raise our mortal bodies and make them like his own in glory. Welcome into your kingdom our departed brothers and sisters, and all who have left this world in your friendship. There we hope to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see you, our God, as you are. We shall become like you and praise you for ever through Christ our Lord, from whom all good things come. Through him, etc., as above.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IV
The fourth prayer incorporates many features of the anaphoras of the Eastern Christian tradition. Its language makes it the most biblical of the prayers of the Roman rite. The opening is less a preface than the beginning of a sustained, hymn-like song of praise, unlike anything in the Roman tradition, that starts from the transcendent mystery of God, creator and rule of the world, and continues through the biblical story of salvation to the incarnation of the Word, culminating in the Paschal Mystery of death and resurrection. Strongly Trinitarian in character, the prayer develops a rich theology of the work of the Holy Spirit and breathes a cosmic spirit, drawing to a close with the vision of a restored creation in the heavenly world.
The model inspiring its composition was the shorter of the two anaphoras associated with St Basil of Caesarea.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
PREFACE
Father in heaven,
it is right that we should give you thanks and glory:
you are the one God, living and true.
Through all eternity you live in unapproachable light.
Source of life and goodness, you have created all things,
to fill your creatures with every blessing
and lead all men to the joyful vision of your light.
Countless hosts of angels stand before you to do your will;
they look upon your splendor and praise you, night and day.
United with them, and in the name of every creature under heaven,
we too praise your glory as we sing (say):
SANCTUS
[First Acclamation of the People]
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
[Praise to the Father]
Father, we acknowledge your greatness:
all your actions show your wisdom and love.
You formed man in your own likeness
and set him over the whole world
to serve you, his creator,
and to rule over all creatures.
Even when he disobeyed you and lost your friendship
you did not abandon him to the power of death,
but helped all men to seek and find you.
Again and again you offered a covenant to man,
and through the prophets taught him to hope for salvation.
Father, you so loved the world
that in the fullness of time you sent your only
Son to be our Savior.
He was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary,
a man like us in all things but sin.
To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation,
to prisoners, freedom,
and to those in sorrow, joy.
In fulfillment of your will
he gave himself up to death;
but by rising from the dead,
he destroyed death and restored life.
And that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him,
he sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father,
as his first gift to those who believe,
to complete his work on earth
and bring us the fullness of grace.
[Invocation of the Holy Spirit]
Father, may this Holy Spirit sanctify these offerings.
Let them become
the body + and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord
as we celebrate the great mystery
which he left us as an everlasting. covenant.
[The Lord's Supper]
He always loved those who were his own in the world.
When the time came for him to be glorified by you, his heavenly Father,
he showed the depth of his love.
While they were at supper,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body
which will be given up for you.
In the same way, he took the cup, filled with wine,
He gave you thanks,
and giving the cup to his disciples, said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it.
This is the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.
It will be shed for you and for all
so that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in memory of me.
[Memorial Acclamation]
Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Savior of the world.
[The Memorial Prayer]
Father, we now celebrate this memorial of our redemption.
We recall Christ's death, his descent among the dead,
his resurrection, and his ascension to your right hand;
and, looking forward to his coming in glory,
we offer you his body and blood,
the acceptable sacrifice
which brings salvation to the whole world.
Lord, look upon this sacrifice
which you have given to your Church;
and by your Holy Spirit,
gather all who share this one bread and one cup
into the one body of Christ, a living sacrifice of praise.
[Intercessions: For the Church]
Lord, remember those for whom we offer this sacrifice,
especially N., our Pope, N., our bishop,
and bishops and clergy everywhere.
Remember those who take part in this offering,
those here present and all your people,
and all who seek you with a sincere heart.
[For the Dead]
Remember those who have died in the peace of Christ and all the dead whose faith is known to you alone.
[In Communion with the Saints]
Father, in your mercy grant also to us, your children,
to enter into our heavenly inheritance
in the company of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God,
and your apostles and saints.
Then, in your kingdom,
freed from the corruption of sin and death,
we shall sing your glory with every creature
through Christ our Lord,
through whom you give us everything that is good.
[Concluding Doxology]
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.
All reply:
Amen.