MASS: The liturgy of the Eucharist

Sister Guadalupe Maria Cervantes, PCI is a member of the Pax Christi Institute.

As we proceed to the liturgy of the Eucharist, an overview is important. The two major parts of the Mass (Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist) form one act of worship. Our participation in the Liturgy of the Word was centered on opening ourselves fully to the Word of God proclaimed to us. Now we prepare ourselves to join our sacrifices with the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ that is offered at the Mass.

At the Last Supper Christ instituted the sacrifice and paschal meal that make the sacrifice of the Cross to be continuously present in the Church, when the priest, representing Christ the Lord, carries out what the Lord did and handed over to his disciples to do in his memory.

Christ took the bread and the cup and gave thanks; he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying: “take and eat, this is my body.” Giving the cup, he said, “Take and drink, this is the cup of my blood. Do this in memory of me.”

Collection
In the early Church people brought the bread and wine from their homes and presented it to the priest during the Mass. Now the bread and wine are bought, but we still have the opportunity to “give” of ourselves at Mass.

One of the most concrete ways that we offer some part of ourselves in the Mass is by giving our financial contribution into the collection basket. These monetary gifts are the modern equivalent of the earlier produce gifts that both support the works of the Church and represent the lives of those who present them.

Procession of the gifts and hymn
A hymn is sung while the altar is being prepared and the gifts are being assembled. It continues as they are brought from the congregation to the priest in a procession. The hymn brings together all of us into one and is a way of unifying the action of those who represent us with ourselves.

The gifts represent us, and the people who bring them to the front emphasize the fact that “we” the congregation are asking the priest to take these gifts and to offer them to God in our name. It is important, because it sets the tone for us to understand that while the priest will say many of the prayers during this part of the Mass, he is saying them for all of us who are offering this Mass to God with him.

Blessing of the bread and wine
Once the priest has been given the bread and wine, both are taken and placed on the altar. He prepares the cup by pouring a drop of water into the wine while saying a prayer. His prayer requests that we who participate in this Mass may come to share in the divinity of Christ (symbolized by the wine) who humbled himself to share in our humanity (symbolized by the drop of water). If the Son of God was capable of such profound humility, shall not we be willing to imitate his humble act?

Hand washing
At this point the priest washes his hands and says silently, “Lord, wash away my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sins.” In Ancient times this had a practical value when the priest was involved in collection and dispensing bread, wine, candles and other gifts of the people. Today it is a symbolic but still touching gesture in which the priest reminds himself of his own sinfulness and need of healing.

Our offering
The first words we hear at any given Mass during the Liturgy of the Eucharist are an invitation by the priest to join him in prayer that God may accept “our sacrifice” both for our benefit and the benefit of the entire Church.

We respond to the invitation of the priest by asking God to accept the sacrifice that we offer at the hands of the priest. We then ask for benefits from this sacrifice that is being offered. Specifically we ask that the Lord accept the sacrifice; for the praise of God’s name; for our good; and for the good of all God’s people.

What if the Mass has an intention attached to it? Most of the time Masses are said for special intentions. Does this mean that the benefit all goes to that intention? The answer is no–every Mass benefits those in attendance and the entire Church, as well as the person or group who has asked for a special remembrance at the Mass.

Prayer over the gifts
The prayer over the gifts are now gathered by the priest in a prayer that takes to heart the special circumstances of the day, and he asks God again to accept the gifts that we offer him in faith through our lord Jesus Christ. Now, he invites the congregation to participate in a living, conscious and active manner in the major parts of the Eucharistic prayer that follows.