Nov 24, 2011
When we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we will be just a few days away from the introduction of the new Roman Missal. I am thankful for all who have been preparing with such care for this moment of grace. In our prayer, study and reflection on the new translation of the prayers of the Mass, I encourage us all to give thanks for the gift of the Mass, for the privilege of participating right here where we live in the Lord's holy and living sacrifice.
"Eucharist" means "Thanksgiving." In the holy Eucharist we receive the sacrament of our salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross. We also participate in His sacrifice of praise of the Father, in thanksgiving for the work of creation. In the eucharistic sacrifice, the whole of creation, loved by God, is presented to the Father through the death and resurrection of Christ. Through Christ, the Church is able to offer this sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for what God has made good and beautiful both in humanity and in all of creation (See "Catechism of the Catholic Church" # 1359-61).
The new translation of the Roman Missal will affect priests most directly because the greatest number of changes are found in the prayers spoken by the priest, on behalf of the whole church. I appreciate the preparation of our priests, who will have to navigate prayerfully at the altar the layout of a new book, as well as a new translation. I have a copy of the new missal in my own chapel, and I have been using some of the prayers for spiritual reading and meditation. The Church's beliefs are expressed in her prayers, so I expect that these prayers will be a good source of meditation for the rest of my life.
The Eucharistic Prayer is at the heart of the Mass. We might say the unique role of the priest at Mass is most apparent at this time. He stands at the head of the assembled faithful in the person of Jesus Christ. In that privileged sacramental role, he speaks to our heavenly Father and offers the paschal sacrifice. Even though the congregation is silent, it is a time of intense participation for everyone. We listen to the prayers offered by the priest and we make a wholehearted spiritual sacrifice of our lives in union with the risen Christ.
As we listen to this central prayer of the Mass, we become more aware of who we are and what we believe. Perhaps it's the time of the year, but as I meditate on the various Eucharistic Prayers in the Roman Missal, I am struck by the importance of giving thanks that is expressed repeatedly. In the dialogue before the Preface, the priest exhorts the congregation; "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God." Most of the Prefaces express a theme that is particular to the liturgical season or to the feast being celebrated. More often than not, the Preface begins with an expression like this: "It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere, to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord."
In the second Eucharistic Prayer, after the consecration, the priest prays, "...we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you." The third Eucharistic Prayer expresses the same thought in these words: "....we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice." And at the time of the consecration, we recall in prayer that Jesus gave thanks at the Last Supper, as he took the bread and the chalice and blessed them.
One of the primary blessings that comes with the gift of faith is to be able to grasp the truth that we are utterly dependent on God. Everything we have and are is God's gift. The more we know about God, the more we come to realize that God does not need us or depend on us for anything. Still God is pleased with our worship, pleased when we offer something to Him. But what can we offer, except what we have already received? The Scriptures and the ancient prayers of the Church help us see that God is pleased to receive our thanks.
This beautiful exchange, God's gift and our thanks, reaches a climax each time we celebrate the eucharistic liturgy. God gives us His Son. Jesus offers Himself to the Father for our salvation. As members of the body of Christ, we join His gift of praise and thanks by offering ourselves. Never to be outdone, God gives us the risen Christ as our spiritual food and drink. Now it is our turn to give thanks with lives of service to God and neighbor all week long.
We have tried to prepare well to receive the new Roman Missal, because we want to be well prepared to participate in the Mass. The Mass is essential to our lives in Christ. Full participation establishes the pattern of receiving and giving that lasts all week long, all lifelong. We cannot live in Christ without this holy and living sacrifice. We cannot be fully human without this perfect expression of thanks. We should never try to live without it.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all. You are in my thankful prayers.
Reprinted with permission from the The Catholic Voice Online.