About the Mass Series: Eucharistic Prayer Part 7

5. ‘Second Invocation of the Spirit and Intercessions’.

During the Eucharistic Prayers, there is a second invocation of the Spirit followed by the intercessions of all its members both living and dead.  The Jewish blessing prayer over the cup included various formulae requesting God to show mercy upon the people of Israel, to send Elijah and the Messiah, and to restore the house of David.  It is natural therefore that the Eucharistic prayer came to include intercessions for various classes of people. Yet these are not part of the earliest tradition of the prayer; they were added only once the main structural elements were in place, since they appear at different places in various liturgical traditions. 

At Antioch these occurred at the end of the prayer, while at Alexandria they were placed before the institution narrative.  In Eucharistic Prayer No 1 (the Roman Canon) there is a preliminary block of intercessions, which mention the Church, the pope, the local bishop, certain members of the living, and those assembled.  These are followed by a list of the apostles and martyrs especially venerated in Rome.  Toward the end of the prayer occurs a second set of intercessory prayers, which remember the dead and invoke the martyrs and saints. The structure of the intercessions in Eucharistic prayer No 1 remains unchanged, although the lists of the saints may be shortened.

Eucharistic Prayers No 2, 3, and 4 follow the Antiochene tradition and place all the intercessions toward the end of the prayer, and links them with the second invocation of the Spirit.  The congregation first requests the fruits of the Eucharist and then prays for more universal intentions.  Although each Eucharistic prayer varies, there is always the supplication for the Church and its pastors, for the immediate community and for the dead. 

The intercessions make it clear that the Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the entire Church of heaven and earth. The offering is made for the Church and all its members, living and dead, who are called to share in the salvation and redemption purchased by Christ’s body and blood. 

As we attend Mass, let us pray in ernest for these intentions of the universal church, both living and dead.