Eucharistic Prayers Include Intercessions
Following the Church’s Offering or Oblation, various intercessions are offered. When these intercessions no longer concluded the Liturgy of the Word, they were transferred to the Eucharistic Prayer bringing them into closer proximity to the Consecration of the Body and Blood of Christ.
The first intercession, referred to as the “second epiclesis” or calling down of the Holy Spirit, is for the Church’s unity. The “first epiclesis” invoked the Holy Spirit upon the gifts of bread and wine to change them into the Body and Blood of Christ. The Holy Spirit is now called down upon the Church so that “we may be gathered into one” (Eucharistic Prayer II). Eucharistic Prayer III prays “grant that we, who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with His Holy Spirit, may become one body, one spirit in Christ.” In Reconciliation Prayer II we find “Holy Father, we humbly beseech you … to endow us with his very Spirit, who takes away everything that estranges us from one another.” The new Eucharistic Prayer III entitled “Jesus, the Way to the Father” proclaims, “By our partaking of this mystery, almighty Father, give us life through the Spirit, grant that we may be conformed to the image of your Son, and confirm us in the bond of communion.” On the night before he died, Jesus prayed for the unity of his disciples. Unity is the greatest sign of God’s presence in the Church and the world – for God is a Trinity of persons, a community of love. The Church reveals the indwelling Trinity through our unity.
In Rome, intercessions were offered for the Pope as the leader of the Church. In Milan and other churches, the local bishop’s name was eventually added as the co-worker with the Pope. Today in Eucharistic Prayer III, “all the clergy and the entire people” are prayed for. In Eucharistic Prayer IV we pray for “all who seek you with a sincere heart”. The new Eucharistic Prayer IV, entitled “Jesus, Who Went About Doing Good,”mentions “all Bishops, Priest and Deacons, and the entire people you have made your own”.
In the four new Eucharistic Prayers, we find intercessions for the Church’s ministry in the world: “Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters….” (Prayer IV); may “all the faithful of the Church…constantly devote themselves to the service of the Gospel. Keep us attentive to the needs of all that…we may faithfully bring them the good news of salvation…” (Prayer III); may we “strive to bring joy and trust into the world” (Prayer II); and, “in a world torn by strife your people may shine forth as a prophetic sign of unity and concord” (Prayer I).
In the Roman Liturgy, the 6th century General Intercessions concluding the Liturgy of the Word also mentioned civil authorities (we find similar intercessions in our Good Friday Liturgy). Our Eucharistic Prayers no longer offer prayers for civil leaders because the Pope eventually also became the civil leader of Rome, guaranteeing its safety.
Since the Patriarchs in the Eastern Orthodox Churches were never the civil authorities in their dioceses, intercessions for the Emperor and civil authorities are still found in their Eucharistic Prayers (called Anaphoras), following St. Paul’s instructions to pray for those exercising power and authority over us: “I urge then, first of all that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving should be offered for everyone, for kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live peaceful and quiet lives with all devotion and propriety” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Father Sauer continues his exploration of the Mass in the Jan. 5, 2018, issue of The Message.
