Eucharistic Prayer Part 5: Memorial Prayer- anamnesis

 ABOUT THE MASS SERIES VOL 2

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Eucharistic Prayer Part 5. ‘Memorial Prayer-anamnesis’.

 

The Passover is a feast whose participants make memory, ‘anamnesis’ in Greek of the whole saving and liberating action of God in the historical past.  However, this is not a ‘remembering’ in the usual sense of the word; rather it is a making present, a re-actualizing for ‘today’ of something that occurred in the past.  Therefore the ‘anamnesis’ is the fulfillment of the command received from Christ through the apostles. The Church keeps his memorial by recalling his passion, resurrection and ascension.

 

In other words, by doing what Jesus has done, the church makes living the memory of Christ’s saving deeds, and the fullness and power of the Pascal mystery continues to be present as an on-going reality when the church celebrates the Eucharist.

 

It is important to realise that this memorial prayer comes straight after the acclamation of faith, and although the wording is different in each of the Eucharistic prayers, the essential elements are embedded there to commemorate the death, resurrection of Jesus and to proclaim his glory.

 

Eucharistic Prayer 1: ‘Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion, the Resurrection from the dead, and the glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ, your Son, our Lord,..’

 

Eucharistic Prayer 11: ‘Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you.’

 

Eucharistic Prayer 111: ‘Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of your Son, his wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, and as we look forward to his second coming, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.’

Eucharistic Prayer IV: ‘Therefore, O Lord, as we now celebrate the memorial of our redemption, we remember Christ’s Death and his descent to the realm of the dead, we proclaim his Resurrection and his Ascension to your right hand,
and, as we await his coming in glory, we offer you his Body and Blood,
the sacrifice acceptable to you which brings salvation to the whole world.

 

 The Mass therefore is rich and gives us much to reflect upon.  

 

So why be bored at Mass?