About the Mass series:
The Mass: About the Mass series Icon.
Eucharistic Prayer no 1.
Similar to other parts of the Mass
mentioned previously, the Eucharistic prayers too have their roots in the
Jewish traditions particularly the benediction called ‘Yotser’. It began
with the blessing of God the creator, continued with a Sanctus and ended with
prayers of intercession. The Christian prayer closest to the Eucharistic
Prayer was called the ‘Didache’.
Since Vatican 11, there are
four main Eucharistic prayers as well as special ones for different occasions,
such as, children liturgies and for Reconciliation. Nevertheless,
the Eucharistic Prayer is prayed in the plural ‘we come to you…’ or ‘we bring
you…’ because it is the prayer of the whole assembly, even though it is the
priest who prays the words aloud.
All of them have a similar structure
1. Call upon the Spirit, 2. Words of
Institution- Consecration, 3. Acclamation of Faith, 4. Memorial
Prayer and Offering, 5. Second Invocation of the Spirit and 6. Doxology.
Eucharistic Prayer 1 was based on the
old Roman Canon, which was written by Saint Ambrose around 4th Century
and was used from 7th century until 1969. Until then, it was
the only Eucharistic Prayer used.
After Vatican 11, other
Eucharistic Prayers were used, of which Eucharistic Prayer 11 is an adaptation
of the oldest Eucharistic Prayer by Hippolytus of Rome. It is the
shortest of the Eucharistic Prayers. Eucharistic Prayer 111 is a
recasting of a draft of a Eucharistic Prayer, which was to be an alternative
prayer of the Canon. Eucharistic Prayer IV is said to draw its inspiration
from Saint Basil around the 4th Century.
More recently, other Eucharistic
prayers apart from those mentioned above are said, but they all have the
similar structure previously mentioned.
Do you have a favourite Eucharistic
Prayer that you like to pray at Mass? All of them have a richness to
offer. Why not read each one of them as part of your own personal prayer life?
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