Besides giving us Gregorian Chant, Pope St. Gregory the Great gave us the Roman Canon. And up to 1970, the only canon used during the Mass was the Roman Canon (the Canon Missae).
For anyone not familiar with the nomenclature, the Canon is that part of the Mass that occurs between the Offertory and before Communion.
Today’s standard missals and missalettes include six Canons. They are Eucharistic Prayers I through IV and two Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation. The altar missal used by the priest – the Sacramentary – has nine (the ones mentioned and three for children’s Masses). And it seems the one most commonly used today is Eucharistic Prayer II.
As stated, the Roman Canon (which is now Eucharistic Prayer I) was put in place by Pope St. Gregory the Great in the seventh century. It remained virtually unchanged until the introduction of the Novus Ordo. New versions of the Eucharistic Prayer were included in the Novus Ordo Mass.
Used every day for over 1300 years, the Roman Canon is rarely used today. I do not know why this is so. It certainly has withstood the test of time. In fact, it remains the standard in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, aka the Latin Mass.
A Mystical Beauty
In the Roman Canon, a mystical beauty is portrayed by the words written. These words create visuals that can carry us to a different place. Focus, listen and read quietly along with the priest. You may actually get a tiny glimpse into heaven itself. Just let yourself feel the words grab you, and transport you to a different realm.
When you “arrive” you may be able to peel back the curtain and take a peek behind it. You might watch as the greatest love story ever told is taking place. It is the story of the perfect LOVE that exists within God and among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who is God. This is about the most profound mystery of our faith and how this perfect LOVE is about to be shared with us. It is the greatest of gifts imaginable, and all of us who choose to accept it are about to receive it. But how does the Canon of the Mass take us there?
I have a copy of the Breaking Bread Missalette for 2018 and a copy of the St. Joseph Daily Missal from 1956. The first is post-Vatican II; the second is pre-Vatican II. The rubrics have changed, but the Roman Canon is substantially the same in both. So let me share just one of the visuals I have mentioned. First we should all be aware that all canons are directed to God the Father.
We believe that through the consecrated hands of the ordained priest, Jesus sacrifices Himself to His Father for us. The Father will accept this Gift of His Son’s human life and return His Risen Son back to us in Holy Communion. This is the Great Mystery of our Faith.
The great Mystery of faith
I will only mention a few words from the Roman Canon that I believe captures it all.
After the words of consecration are said, and the Body and Blood of Jesus are on the altar, we all recite the mystery of faith. Then the priest continues with:
Therefore, O Lord (referring to the Father) as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion, and the glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ, your Son, our Lord, WE, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.
We move down and read of Abel the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, and the offering of the priest, Melchizedek. So try to picture what happens next when God the Father hears our prayer:
In humble prayer we ask you, Almighty God; Command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar, receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, and may be filled with every grace and blessing
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
As we watch the angel take our gifts up to heaven and then return them to us from our Father, we finish with the following words (how many of us think about them?):
Through Him, and with Him, and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever. Amen.
All the Eucharistic Prayers are beautiful, but I must admit, I do love #1 the most.
The “old” Baltimore Catechism
There is a crisis in our treasured church consisting of a majority of people claiming to be Catholic not believing in the Real Presence. Ironically, many of these people will attend Mass on Easter, and most will receive Holy Communion. It may be the only Sunday they attend Mass all year. This is not shocking since many do not understand what they are doing or why they are even at Mass. Do they have any understanding of what the Mass is? I think not. Is it their fault? Again, I think not.
There might be a simple solution. Has anyone ever thought of bringing back the “old” Baltimore Catechism? This little book has the core teachings of the Catholic faith written in terms for all to see and understand, from first graders on up. For example; from the St. Joseph First Communion Catechism; copyright 1963:
Lesson 1, First question: “Who made you?” Answer ; “God made me.”
Lesson 2, First question: “Where is God?” Answer; “God is everywhere.”
Lesson 3, First question: “Is there only one God?” Answer “Yes, there is only one God.”
Second question: “How many Persons are there in God.?
Answer: “In God, there are three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”
Those simple phrases sum up the existence of God and the Blessed Trinity. Simplified explanations follow these questions. Parents could have these little paperbacks at home. Teachers could have them in the classroom. Even high school and college students could do ‘refreshers’ with these little books.
The Eucharist and the Mass
The First Communion Catechism finishes with lessons covering the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Mass. Remember, the lessons used here are for first and second graders. They could also be for adults; it does not matter.
Lesson 11: First question: “What is the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist?”
Answer: “The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament of the body and blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”
From there, simple explanations are used to explain what this means. These are followed by a beautiful description of the Mass and how it is Jesus’ Act of Love for us.
Maybe it is time to reconsider using the ‘old” catechism or parts of it.
HAPPY EASTER everyone!
7 thoughts on “Eucharistic Prayer I — From Daily Use to Muted Gem”
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Very good article but there are a few errors. The term “Sacramentary” went away in 2011. The book we use at the altar is now the “Roman Canon.” There are 10 options for the Eucharistic Prayers (Canons): I-IV, Reconciliation I and II, and four settings for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions. The Eucharistic Prayers for Children are published in a separate book. Eucharistic Prayer IV requires use of the Preface assigned to it. Reconciliation I and II may use other Prefaces than those assigned, such as the ones used during Lent. Various Needs and Occasions have assigned Prefaces and usually corresponds to one of the Mass Settings found in the Roman Missal. My current assignment we do not have missalettes but my previous ones only had Eucharistic Prayer I-IV so that was interesting to me finding out some publishers include the additional Canons.
The Baltimore Catechism never went away but why it is not longer used is current catechetical teaching goes beyond the rote/Socratic question and answer. The USCCB published the “Adult Catechism” that inspired Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to approve the Youth Catechism (known as YouCat). Both use a similar Q&A concept but more details on the why we believe. The problem with the Baltimore Catechism was and is many knew the answers but not the why. When pressed (by Anti-Catholic or someone with a genuine question) most could not answer the why part. Heres an image: The Baltimore Catechism is like solving a math problem without showing the work.
Thanks for your comments/corrections Fr. Dan. Please note, however, that while the Third Edition of the sacramentary issued in 2011 is titled “Roman Missal” it is still referred to as the Sacramentary (https://smcaustin.org/words-and-objects-to-know).
As for the Baltimore Catechism, as a Catechist I, for one, would vote to bring it back. I teach 8th grade Confirmation Prep along with my wife and over the last 20 years the kids have exhibited less and less knowledge about the faith year after year. A little rote learning WITH explanations of “why” would be a good thing (see my articles, https://www.catholicstand.com/kids-reflect-their-parents-attitudes/ and http://www.catholicstand.com/maybe-we-need-some-kung-fu-in-catholic-catechesis/, and http://www.catholicstand.com/consequences-50-years-poor-catechesis-1/).
Two corrections:
– You didn’t mention the four Eucharistic Prayers “for various needs,” sometimes called the Swiss prayer; it is basically one prayer with four variations.
– The three prayers for Mass with children are no longer in the Missal, although they are still permitted to be used.
That is a total of 13 Eucharistic prayers, although three are only for children, and seven of these — the prayers for reconciliation and the “various needs” texts, plus the Fourth Eucharistic Prayer — are only supposed to be used in Ordinary Time (because they are supposed to be used with their prefaces). So, if you are keeping count, there are only three that can be used ALL the time.
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Can you give an account as to why the Baltimore Catechism was rejected? My religious instruction teacher (circa 1968) said that it was now “laughed at”. There must have been a reason. And also a reason why it was never re-adopted, not even by JP II, who issued a new Catechism in 1991.
Capt, as Fr. Dan mentioned in his comment above, “rote learning” was deemed as unsuitable for “modern” kids back in the 70s and 80s by all the “experts.” Creating high self-esteem became the new thing in education. Now the Dunning–Kruger effect is in full force. But there is still a place for rote learning especially for children in grades 1-8. Today’s Faith Formation (formerly CCD) is unfortunately producing kids who all too often turn into lapsed Catholics. The Catechism is far too comprehensive to use as the basis of a Faith Formation program for grades 1-8. Also See my reply to Fr. Dan.