EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

This next part is very special. This is where the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This part of the Mass is called the "consecration," and the change of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is call "transubstantiation." The appearance of bread and wine stays the same, but the substance changes in to the Body and Blood of Christ.

Your supposed to kneel in adoration now, "except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason."[6]Whatever you do, don't sit. Of course if you're physically unable to kneel or stand, you may sit, but everyone else, DON'T SIT. Christ is King, and when a king enters a room, nobody sits. It's been known to happen that a king will cut off someone's head if he sits while the king enters a room. Luckily, King Jesus doesn't do this.

If you feel uncomfortable about kneeling, do it anyway. You'll look really out of place if you sit, as sitting is a sign of disrespect.

If you're unable to kneel, you may feel a little uncomfortable about standing while everyone else is kneeling, but that's OK; everyone will understand. Just don't sit unless you are unable to stand.

There are a number of different prayers that can be said now, and it's up to the priest to choose which ones to use that day. It would take too long to show you all the different prayers, but they all share some parts, and I'll show these to you.

After the priest's been praying for a while, he'll reminds us of the Last Supper. Then he'll hold the bread up and say the words Jesus said:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

As these words are said, the bread changes into the Body of Christ. This is such a special moment that bells are rung sometimes. As the priest shows the Body of Christ to you, you can quietly pray, "My Lord, and my God." After this, you should bow your head, as the priest genuflects.

The priest prays a bit more, holds up the cup, and says the words Jesus said:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

As these words are said, the wine changes into the Blood of Christ. Again, this is a special moment, and bells might be rung. As the priest show the chalice (cup) with the Blood of Christ to you, you can quietly repeat the prayer you said when the Body of Christ was elevated, or you could pray, "Be mindful, O Lord, of your creature whom you have redeemed by your most precious Blood."After this, you should bow your head, as the priest genuflects.

Many bow their heads as soon as the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ is elevated, but the reason They are elevated is so that you can look at Them in adoration. Once the priest places Them back on the altar is the time to lower your head.

If you are standing, for whatever "good reason,"[7] you should make a profound bow after the elevation of the Body of Christ, and once again after the elevation of the Blood of Christ. If you can't make a profound bow, just bow your head, or whatever sign of adoration you can. If you are kneeling, just bow you head after the elevations since you are already kneeling in adoration.

Everyone usually stands up now, although some churches, most notably in the United States, stay kneeling.

The priest says:

The mystery of faith.

And, the congregation responses with one of the following:

We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.

Or:

When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup,
we proclaim your Death, O Lord,
until you come again.

Or:

Save us, Saviour of the world,
for by your Cross and Resurrection
you have set us free.

Again, it's up to the priest to decide what to pray now, but when he's done, he'll hold up the Body of Christ (it may be on a plate called a "paten") and the cup with the Blood of Christ, and says:

Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
for ever and ever.

Amen.