Devotion for today: Interceding for ourselves and others…

We are looking today at the final stage of the Eucharistic prayer: the intercessions. It is a lovely thought that the Church, in her infinite wisdom, asks us to pause and remember all those for whom we need to pray: the living, the deceased, the Holy Father, our local Bishop, and  all of us who will soon be receiving the sacred body and blood of Christ. As with all things Catholic, the intercessions remind us that life is not about us. The Mass is not only about us – it is about us in union and communion with others. We must not forget to pray for the deceased, or for the living. It is important to unite ourselves with the intentions of the Pope so that the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church may thrive even in a hostile society, and our local Bishop is our link to the rest of the Church. It is he who will provide the guidance and decision making which all the priests of our diocese must follow. It just makes sense to pray for him. Take time as you pray the end of the Eucharistic prayer to place your beloved family and friends in here, and also ask God to keep your eyes and heart ever open to the awareness that your faith is not only personal, but united to millions of people around the world. We all share One Faith, one baptism, and we all confess one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!

Scripture for reflection: 1 Corinthians 10:17: Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

Fr. William Saunders tells us (Straight Answers II, Cathedral Foundation Press, 2003): … since the beginning of the fourth century, the Eucharistic Prayer has included several petitions: “We pray for….” Here, the saints are invoked, especially the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and the apostles and martyrs. As a sign of unity throughout the Church, the intentions of the Holy Father and the local Bishop are remembered. Lastly, the living and deceased members of the Church are also remembered.

Fr. Edward McNamara tells us: The priest proffers the Eucharistic Prayer not in his own name but as representative of Christ and the Church. This formula therefore expresses a deeper theological reality in which the priest and the assembly manifest their belonging to the Universal Church through hierarchical communion with pope and bishop. The pope is the representative of this unity at the universal level; the bishop is this principle of unity at the local level. Communion with both pope and bishop are necessary if our Eucharist is to be authentically Catholic. Regarding mentioning the saints, each Eucharistic Prayer has its own characteristics and these must be respected. Before Pope John XXIII added St. Joseph, the Roman Canon traditionally listed 24 saints (12 apostles and 12 martyrs) in two separate groups. This list may now be shortened to seven by omitting the saints following St. Andrew in the first group and after St. Barnabas in the second. 

The full list is: 

First: Peter and Paul, Andrew, (James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude [apostles], Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, [5 Popes] Cyprian [bishop of Carthage], Lawrence [deacon], Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian [5 laymen]). 

Second: John the Baptist, Stephen [deacon protomartyr], Matthias, Barnabas [apostles], (Ignatius [bishop of Antioch], Alexander [Pope], Marcellinus [priest], Peter [exorcist], Felicity, Perpetua [2 married laywomen of Carthage], Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia [4 virgins], Anastasia [laywoman of Sirmium]. 

These lists thus represent the whole Church united in offering the most holy sacrifice of the altar insofar as Christians from all strands have been deemed worthy of martyrdom, the ultimate sacrifice for Christ. In this way the use of the full list, at least occasionally, can be very useful, among other messages, in illustrating the universal call to holiness. (Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university. http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur258.htm)

Eucharistic Prayer VI Intercessions: Look, O Lord, upon the Sacrifice which you yourself have provided for your Church, and grant in your loving kindness to all who partake of this one Bread and one Chalice that, gathered into one body by the Holy Spirit, they may truly become a living sacrifice in Christ to the praise of your glory.

Therefore, Lord, remember now all for whom we offer this sacrifice, especially your servant N>our Pope, N> our Bishop, and the whole Order of Bishops, all the clergy, those who take part in this offering, those gathered here before you, your entire people, and all who seek you with a sincere heart.

Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead, whose faith you alone have know.

To all of us, your children, grant, O merciful Father, that we may enter into a heavenly inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and with your Apostles and Saints in your kingdom. There, with the whole of creation, freed from the corruption of sin and death, may we glorify you though Christ our Lord, through whom you bestow on the whole world all that is good.