Monday in the Fourth Week of Lent

We slow down and pray through Monday of the fourth week of Lent, then unpack the Prayer Over the Offerings and why it matters. We connect sacramental theology with everyday prayer, learning how the Mass trains us to ask God boldly and thank Him for what He is already giving.

• the structure of the Prayer Over the Offerings after the preparation of the gifts 
• what the Church asks for before the Eucharistic Prayer begins 
• the three aims behind the offering prayer and why today focuses on receiving its fruits 
• why we still ask God for what He promises in the sacraments 
• how liturgical prayer forms personal prayer and builds trust in providence 
• questions to examine whether our prayer sounds like the Church 
• practicing bold petitions and real gratitude at home

If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith this Lent, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our Lenten Reflection booklet, now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org.

Transcript

hat The Offering Prayer Means

hy We Ask God Anyway

old Prayer And Real Gratitude

enten Resources And Closing

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Monday in the fourth week of Lent. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen. Prayer over the offerings. After the priest offers the bread and wine and washes his hands, he turns to the people and asks them to pray that he and they can offer worthy sacrifice to the Lord. They respond, May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands. And then he says the prayer over the offerings. Today that prayer reads, May we receive, O Lord, we pray, the effects of this offering dedicated to you, so that we may be cleansed from old earthly ways and be renewed by growth in heavenly life. All of these moments of prayer, the invocation of the priest, the people's response, and the prayer itself, are preparations for the Eucharistic prayer itself, which will begin with the preface. These moments are basically the church asking God for three things. One, may what we offer become Christ, and two, may what we seek actually be accomplished, and three, may we receive the fruits of this offering. The prayer for today is along the lines of this third point. On the whole, it is interesting to note that we are asking God to do what we know He will and wants to do. We know from sacramental theology that when the proper matter, bread and wine in this case, form, this is my body, and this is my blood, minister, and intention are present, God shows up, if you will. We don't have to wonder whether it happens, whether God fulfills his promise. He does, because that is in his nature, and that's how the sacraments work, and yet we still ask for it to be done. There is good reason, I think, for this sort of prayer in the middle of Mass. It teaches us to pray. Holy Mother Church, in all her official prayers, teaches the faithful what our prayer should look like, both liturgically and personally. And while personal prayer has a lot more wiggle room than does liturgical, it should still be in accord with revelation and church teaching. By teaching us to ask for what we know God will do, the church is teaching us trust in providence, as well as the fact that, like children, we should ask for what we need, even knowing that God wants such a thing for us. There is importance in the asking. So, even when you pray in the quiet of your home, be bold and ask God for what you need. When you pray, is it like the prayer of the church or something the church would not have you do? Have you tried to learn how to pray better from the church, the saints, etc.? Are you bold in your prayer? Do you ask God for the good things you already know He is giving you? Do you thank Him for them? All that I have and all that I am, I give to your hands, Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith this Lent, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our Lenten Reflection booklet, now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org.