Dear Friends,
We continue through the Eucharistic Prayer, the high point and most sacred part of the Mass. Last week, we covered the first two elements of the Eucharistic Prayer: Thanksgiving found in the Preface and Acclamation found in the Sanctus, the Holy, Holy, Holy. Today, we will focus on the next two elements of the Eucharistic Prayer: Epiclesis and the Institution Narrative and Consecration. At our parishes, there is a common action to both the Epiclesis and Consecration: bell ringing. Why ring bells? Bell ringing engages our sense of hearing, adds solemnity to Mass, and also alerts us (if we’re dozing off) to pay attention because something important is happening.
Aside from the single ring of the bells, the other way to identify the Epiclesis is evidenced by the priest extended his hands over the paten and chalice containing the bread and wine. During the Epiclesis, the priest, on behalf of the Church, invokes the Holy Spirit, begging the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Here is the Epiclesis from Eucharistic Prayer III: “Therefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you: by the same Spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the Body and (+) Blood of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate these mysteries.” Where you see the (+) is when the priest makes the Sign of the Cross over the bread and wine.
After the Epiclesis is the Institution Narrative and Consecration. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says this about the Consecration: “...In which, by means of words and actions of Christ, the Sacrifice is carried out which Christ himself instituted at the Last Supper, when he offered his Body and Blood under the species of bread and wine, gave them to his Apostles to eat and drink, and left them the command to perpetuate this same mystery.” We are following Christ’s command to do this and following the manner in which He wants us to offer this Sacrifice. For each of the sacraments, the proper matter and proper form is necessary; matter refers to the material used in each sacrament, and form usually refers to the words and actions used in each sacrament. The proper matter for the Eucharist is bread and wine; the proper form are the words of consecration, which we will discuss later.
Aside from the Resurrection, there is only one miracle from Jesus’ public ministry that appears in all four Gospels: the Multiplication of Fish and Loaves. Those accounts of this miracle, while not identical, are similar: Jesus took the bread and fish, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to be distributed. The Gospel of St. Matthew tells us, “Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, Jesus said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds (14:19).” At the Last Supper from St. Matthew’s Gospel, “Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is my body (26:26).’” There is a clear connection between the Multiplication of the Fish and Loaves and the Last Supper.
Here, now are words from the Institution Narrative from Eucharistic Prayer I (the Roman Canon): “On the day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples…”. Through Holy Mass, the Church teaches us the connection between the miraculous bread multiplied in Jesus’ public ministry, the Last Supper, and at Mass. Finally, the words of Consecration, which are the same in every Eucharistic prayer. These words are the proper form of the sacrament and are absolutely necessary: “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you...Take this, all of you and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.” With the elevation of the host and chalice after these words, there is a triple ringing of the bells—something especially holy and miraculous has happened!
We are saints under construction, adoring our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Have a great week!
In Christ,
Fr. Matt