Eucharistic Prayer Part 2.

 

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES VOL 2.

The Mass at Nazareth.

 

Eucharistic Prayer: Part 2

 

1’Call on the Spirit’

 

In the Eucharistic prayers, there is a call on the Spirit to come on the community and upon the bread and wine. Such an invocation is called an ‘epiclesis’, that is ‘a calling upon’, ‘a calling over here’.  The Father is requested to send the Holy Spirit, who brings about such fruits of the Eucharist as unity and love among the faithful gathered, and there is a request that the Spirit bless, sanctify and transform the bread and the wine.

In each of the Eucharistic prayers there is a petition that the Father send the Holy Spirit. Even though the wording of the prayers is different, both aspects of the petition is inherent in these prayers.  Eucharistic Prayer 1 says:

…‘Bless and approve our offering; make it acceptable to you an offering in spirit and in truth.  Let is become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord’.

 

Eucharistic Prayer 11 says:

‘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’

 

Eucharistic Prayer 111 says:

‘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’.  

 

Eucharistic Prayer 1V says:

‘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 an everlasting covenant’. 

 

As the priest makes this petition, he extends his hands over the bread and wine in the ancient gesture signifying the giving of the Spirit.

This is a very special invocation that the Church makes each time Mass is celebrated around the world. 

HOW TO CONNECT THE MASS WITH OUR LIVES.

1. .Become familiar with these invocations and use them as a prayer during the week. For example, you are about to start a task at home/work. Offer it to Our Father in Heaven and ask Him to bless our efforts through Jesus, and with the power of the Holy Spirit. 
   
   
2. Use these prayers to bless your colleagues at work especially those who we might find difficult with which to get along.  Over time with consistent prayer for our work colleagues, we can change a work environment with God’s help.
   
   
3. Use your hands as a gesture to signify the Holy Spirit either subtly and/or in our minds whilst in a team meeting or with family especially if the meeting is getting bogged down or power play is present.
   
   
4. 
   
5. Find our own ways to make this very important moment of the Mass to be a reality in our lives during the week by bringing the Mass into our lives and not just left at Church.  Remember when you do see or experience change through consistently praying these prayers in our lives to give God our heartfelt thanks.

May the power of the Spirit transform, complete and bring to fullness our lives.