Sarah Mitchell
The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a central act of worship in the Roman Catholic Church. It involves the preparation of gifts and the altar, the offering and presentation of bread and wine, their consecration by the priest, and the reception of Holy Communion. The Eucharistic Prayer is at the heart of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, where the celebrant acts in the person of Christ, uniting the congregation with Christ and offering their lives to God. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a memorial of Jesus' death and resurrection, recalling the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rite | Liturgy of the Eucharist |
| Type | The second of the two principal rites of the mass |
| Worship | The central act of worship of the Roman Catholic Church |
| Purpose | Memorial of Jesus' Death and Resurrection |
| Preparation | Preparation of the gifts and the altar |
| Gifts | Bread, wine, water, and monetary gifts for the support of the Church and the care of the poor |
| Participants | Ministers, representatives of the people, celebrant, priest, deacon, and eucharistic minister |
| Actions | Blessing, praising, placing gifts on the altar, washing hands, offering prayers, receiving Holy Communion, chanting/singing, silent prayer, greeting, blessing, and dismissal |
| Responses | "The Body of Christ" and "Amen" |
| Prayer | Eucharistic Prayer, Prayer over the Offerings, prayer of thanksgiving, prayer of sanctification, prayer for unity with Christ, final blessing |
| Elements | Bread, wine, Body of Christ, chalice of wine |
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What You'll Learn
Preparation of the altar
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the gifts and the altar. The preparation of the altar involves several steps and the arrangement of various objects, each carrying a significant meaning.
Firstly, the processional cross, a fundamental Christian symbol, is placed in a prominent position, either on or near the altar. The cross is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and serves as a focal point for the ritual action. In ancient times, this cross was likely a simple wooden structure, but over time, it evolved into a crucifix, depicting the Body of Christ.
Secondly, candles are lit and placed on or next to the altar. These candles symbolise Christ as the light of the world, and their number varies depending on the occasion, with at least two candles for any celebration and up to four or six for a Sunday Mass or holy day.
During the preparation of the altar, flowers may also be used to decorate and enhance the liturgical celebration. However, the use of flowers depends on the liturgical season. For instance, during Advent, floral decorations are kept simple, while Christmas celebrations call for a more extravagant display. On the other hand, flowers are not used during Lent, reflecting the penitential nature of the season.
As the ministers prepare the altar, representatives of the people bring forward the bread and wine, which will symbolically become the Body and Blood of Christ during the Eucharistic Prayer. These elements are placed on a smaller cloth called the "corporal," which is positioned at the centre front of the altar. The corporal functions like a liturgical serviette and is used to wipe the chalice after each person partakes in the Eucharist.
In addition to the bread and wine, monetary gifts for the support of the Church and the care of the poor may also be brought forward during this time. The gifts are gathered and presented at the altar while an offertory song is typically sung, creating a sense of unity and reverence.
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Gifts brought to the altar
The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the central act of worship of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the memorial of Jesus' Death and Resurrection. The Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the offering and the presentation of gifts brought to the altar, their consecration by the priest during the Eucharistic Prayer, and the reception of Holy Communion.
The gifts brought to the altar include the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood of Christ. Representatives of the people bring forward these gifts, which are then placed on the altar by the celebrant. In addition to the bread and wine, monetary gifts for the support of the Church and the care of the poor may also be brought forward. Other gifts mentioned in historical texts include oil, honey, fruit, wax, or flowers.
The presentation of the gifts is a symbolic gesture that dates back to the early Church. In the 2nd century, St. Justin Martyr wrote about the practice of bringing forth bread and wine after prayer, followed by the priest's prayers and thanksgivings. St. Augustine, in the 5th century, referred to the "admirable exchange" where the faithful return the gifts they have received from God.
During the preparation of the gifts, the deacon and assistants prepare the altar while an offertory song is typically sung. The priest washes his hands and offers a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gifts of bread and wine that will be transformed into Christ's body and blood. This prayer concludes the preparation and leads into the Eucharistic Prayer, the heart of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Eucharistic Prayer is offered in the first person plural, signifying that all the baptized present are making a sacrificial offering in union with Christ. This prayer is not just about offering Christ but also about offering ourselves, our lives, and our efforts to grow more like Christ and serve God's people. Through the priest's hands, these offerings are joined with Christ's perfect sacrifice and presented to the Father as perfect praise and thanksgiving.
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Washing of the priest's hands
The washing of the priest's hands, or Lavabo, is a ritual in the Catholic Mass that symbolises the purification of the priest's mind and heart before the Eucharistic Prayer. The priest washes their hands using a lavabo, which is a device that typically consists of a ewer or container to pour water and a bowl to catch the falling water.
In the Roman Rite, the priest washes their hands privately before vesting for Mass, reciting a prayer such as "Da, Domine, virtutem" ("Give, O Lord, virtue") or "Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin". This private prayer expresses the priest's desire for interior purification before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
During the Mass, the priest washes their hands after preparing the offerings on the altar. This ritual symbolises the anticipation of the bread and wine being transformed into Christ's body and blood. The priest may say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for these gifts, which are about to become the Body and Blood of Christ.
In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, the priest recites the last six verses from Psalm 26 before washing their hands:
> I will wash my hands in innocence and I will compass Thine altar, O Lord, that I may hear the voice of Thy praise and tell of all Thy wondrous works. O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. Destroy not my soul with the ungodly, nor my life with men of blood, in whose hands are iniquities; their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, in mine innocence have I walked; redeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot hath stood in uprightness; in the congregations will I bless Thee, O Lord.
The ritual of handwashing has its roots in practical necessity, as in the early days of the Church, people would bring various offerings, including produce and animals, which the priest would handle before continuing with the Mass.
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The Eucharistic Prayer
- Thanksgiving: The priest glorifies God the Father and gives thanks to him for the whole work of salvation or for a particular aspect of it, depending on the day, festivity, or time of year.
- Acclamation: The congregation joins with the heavenly powers in singing the Sanctus ("Holy, Holy, Holy"). This is part of the Eucharistic Prayer itself and is pronounced by all those present together with the priest.
- Epiclesis: The Church implores the power of the Holy Spirit to consecrate the gifts offered by human hands, so they become Christ's Body and Blood.
The “words of institution” over the bread and wine are identical in all the Eucharistic prayers, although the introductory words may vary. Eucharistic Prayer III, for example, is used in Masses for the Dead and includes a longer text that prays for the departed and expresses hope in eternal life with God.
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Holy Communion
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the altar and the gifts. Ministers prepare the altar, and representatives bring forward the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood of Christ. The priest blesses and praises God for these gifts, and places them on the altar. The priest then washes their hands and offers a prayer of thanks to God for the gifts of bread and wine that will become Christ's body and blood. This is followed by the Eucharistic Prayer, a prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification, and the centre of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The priest offers this prayer in the first person plural, signifying that all the baptised present are making the offering in union with Christ. The prayer joins the offering of bread and wine with Christ's sacrifice, offering them to the Father. The priest then recites the preface, expressing thanksgiving for God's wonderful actions. The people may sing or say a response.
After the priest has prepared the bread and wine, the people exclaim, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed". The priest administers Holy Communion to their assistants, and then the people come forward, row by row, to receive the bread and wine. People may receive the Body of Christ either on the tongue or in the hand. The priest or minister offers the Eucharist to each person, saying, "The Body of Christ", to which the person replies, "Amen", meaning "so be it". As people receive Communion, a communion song is sung, and all may spend some time in silent prayer. Once Communion is completed, the priest offers a final greeting and blessing, and the people are dismissed with words such as, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord".
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Frequently asked questions
The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the central act of worship of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the memorial of Jesus' Death and Resurrection.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the gifts and the altar. Representatives of the people bring forward the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood of Christ. The priest blesses and praises God for these gifts and places them on the altar. The Eucharistic Prayer is then said, which is a prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification. This is followed by the epiclesis, where the priest asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
The bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This recalls the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper, when he shared a final meal with his disciples and gave them bread and wine as his Body and Blood.
Only those in communion with the Catholic Church may receive Holy Communion. Those who do not receive Communion can still participate in the rite by praying for unity with Christ and with each other.
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