The Eucharistic prayer forms the fifth movement of the Mass. This is where worship comes together in one great prayer of thanksgiving. It is a most sacred moment in the celebration as we kneel or stand in awe joining our voices with those of the priest and the choirs of angels and saints: “Holy, Holy, Holy God, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest”.
This prayer, the Sanctus, marries together three parts of
scripture:
Isaiah 6:3 - the hymn of the seraphim
Psalm 118:26 - the joyful cry of the pilgrims
Matthew 21:9 - the acclamation of Christ entering Jerusalem
The Sanctus is a prayer of joy and praise in anticipation of
what is to come. There are many
different rites for the Eucharistic prayer. In the Roman Catholic Church there
are, principally, four such prayers including the more ancient one referred to
as the Roman Canon.
What are we giving thanks for? We are thanking our Saviour Jesus
Christ for coming in the flesh to save us and the whole world. Not everyone will accept this gift but we
pray and struggle for this as we acclaim ‘We proclaim our death, O Lord and
profess your resurrection until you come again”.
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