Thursday in the Fourth Week of Lent

We pray through the fourth week of Lent and focus on the Eucharistic Prayer as the high point of the Mass. We use the Church’s own words to break down each element so you can follow the prayer with understanding and offer yourself more intentionally. 
• opening prayers and daily offering through the Immaculate Heart of Mary 
• why the Eucharistic Prayer stands at the centre of the Mass 
• the main parts named by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal 
• thanksgiving in the preface and the people’s Sanctus acclamation 
• epiclesis as the invocation of the Holy Spirit for consecration 
• institution narrative, consecration and Christ’s command to continue the mystery 
• anamnesis as the memorial of the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension 
• oblation and learning to offer our very selves 
• intercessions showing communion with the whole Church living and dead 
• concluding doxology and the people’s Amen 
• reflection questions on what surprised us and how structure helps prayer 
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 in the Apple App and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org. 

Transcript

Why The Eucharistic Prayer Matters

The Eucharistic Prayer Broken Down

Reflection Questions And Closing Prayers

Join The Cristeros This Lent

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Thursday 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. The Eucharistic Prayer. The Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass is the high point of the celebration. There is much involved in this prayer, and so I will allow the Church to speak for herself as to the elements and meaning of this all-encompassing prayer. The following is from the general instruction of the Roman Missal. 79. The main elements of which the Eucharistic prayer consists may be distinguished from one another in this way. A. The thanksgiving, expressed especially in the preface, in which the priest, in the name of the whole of the holy people, glorifies God the Father and gives thanks to Him for the whole work of salvation, or for some particular aspect of it, according to the varying day, festivity, or time of year. B. The acclamation, by which the whole congregation, joining with the heavenly powers, sings the sanctus, holy, holy, holy. This acclamation, which constitutes part of the Eucharistic prayer itself, is pronounced by all the people with the priest. C. The epiclesis, or calling down or invocation of the Holy Spirit, in which, by means of particular invocations, the Church implores the power of the Holy Spirit that the gifts offered by human hands be consecrated, that is, become Christ's body and blood, and that the unblemished sacrificial victim to be consumed in communion may be for the salvation of those who will partake of it. D. The institution narrative and consecration, by which, by means of the words and actions of Christ, that sacrifice is effected, which Christ Himself instituted during the Last Supper, when He offered His body and blood under the species of bread and wine, gave them to the Apostles to eat and drink, and leaving with the latter the command to perpetuate this same mystery. The anamnesis or remembrance, by which the Church, fulfilling the command that she received from Christ the Lord through the Apostles, celebrates the memorial of Christ, recalling especially his blessed passion, glorious resurrection, and ascension into heaven. F. The oblation, by which in this very memorial, the Church, in particular that gathered here and now, offers the unblemished sacrificial victim in the Holy Spirit to the Father. The Church's intention indeed is that the faithful not only offer this unblemished sacrificial victim, but also learn to offer their very selves, and so day by day to be brought through the mediation of Christ into unity with God and with each other, so that God may at last be all in all. G. The intercessions, by which expression is given to the fact that the Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the whole church, of both heaven and of earth, and that the oblation is made for her and for all her members, living and dead, who are called to participate in the redemption and salvation purchased by the body and blood of Christ? H. The concluding doxology, by which the glorification of God is expressed, and which is affirmed and concluded by the people's acclamation. Amen. Did any of these elements surprise you? Do any stand out? How might knowing the structure of this prayer help you to pray it better? 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 in the Apple App and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org.