3/7/11 – What Happens at Mass, Part XI: Entering Into the Eucharistic Prayer

The introduction of the new translation of the Roman Missal is not just a chance to learn new words, but will hopefully be an opportunity to come to a deeper understanding of the Mass.

After the Profession of Faith, we pray for our needs and the needs of the world through the Prayer of the Faithful.  This concludes the Liturgy of the Word.

The gifts of bread and wine are then brought forward and are prepared by the priest.  He then invites us to share in the Eucharistic Prayer.  The invitation to prayer has changed slightly:

Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters),
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

Like with other parts of the revised translation, this translation is now a closer match to the Latin text, which also refers to the priest’s sacrifice and ours.  The change to “my sacrifice and yours”, however, may seem strange.

In considering this change, we need to consider how each of us comes to the Eucharistic celebration with our own reasons for thanksgiving, with our own needs and concerns.  In a sense, therefore, we offer ourselves at the altar along with the offerings of bread and wine.  This newly revised translation of the Latin phrase, now rendered at “my sacrifice and yours” can hopefully serve as a reminder of our necessary part in this offering and sacrifice of the Mass.

We then enter into the Prayer Over the Offerings and the Eucharistic Prayer.  The Eucharistic Prayer also begins with a newly revised response to “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.”  Our response, “It is right and just”, allows the priest to proceed with the Eucharistic Prayer and lead us into the high point of the Mass.  The priest, in beginning the preface, acknowledges our agreement and desire to share in the Eucharist by affirming that “it is right and just” that we give thanks and praise to God.