The Communion Rite

The communion rite of the Mass keeps us coming back week after week.  In it we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, receiving our spiritual sustenance for the week ahead.  This week we’ll finish our look at the new translation of the Roman Missal.  The communion rite begins with the Lord’s Prayer and continues through the Prayer after Communion.

After the priest gives an invitation, everyone prayers the prayer Jesus himself gave us.  The priest says another short prayer and we all say another acclamation.  The words of the Lord’s Prayer haven’t changed.  We’ll continue to use the same words we’ve used our entire Christian lives.  This is the only text of the Mass that keeps the Old English pronoun “thy” in use…  “Thy will be done…, thy kingdom come.”

The Lord’s Prayer that we know has achieved a certain level of holiness.  We who speak English have used it for so long, it just can't be replaced.  The same applies to the words that conclude the Lord’s Prayer.  You’ll still conclude with: “for the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever,” either recited or sung.

Again, my part has changed more than yours.  I now introduce it with these words: “at the Savior’s command, and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say…”  Between the Lord’s Prayer and your acclamation, that prayer has changed even more.

Instead of asking for protection from all anxiety as I now do, I’ll pray that we be “safe from all distress.”  The prayer concerns the circumstances that cause distress, not the feeling of anxiety. 

Instead of saying, “we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ” I will say, “we await the blessed hope, and the coming of our savior Jesus Christ.”  The words echo the words of Saint Paul to Titus, which affirm that Christ has come and that we look forward to the blessings of his return.  Christ is our hope.  We wait for his coming ~ even when we perhaps aren’t so joyful.

After the Lord’s Prayer, the priest prays to Jesus for peace and unity in the Church.  My words are slightly different, but you will recognize them.  I will begin to say: “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, peace I leave with you, my peace I give you,

Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church and grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.  Who live and reign for ever and ever.”  Whenever you hear those words, your response is: “Amen.”

Pronouns referring to the Church are now feminine; as the word “her” in this prayer.  The sign of peace is now optional, but you will rarely see it omitted.

During the breaking of the bread, when we divide the consecrated hosts into the four bowls, you sing the “Lamb of God.”  Those words haven’t changed.  There are prayers that the presider will say silently that have changed… but because they are to be done silently, you won’t hear them.

Just before communion is distributed, the priest makes an announcement.  The new translation is: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb.”

You notice the words have changed… John the Baptist is quoted as he saw Jesus walking on the side of the Jordan River, he said to his followers, “Behold the Lamb of God…

“Happy” has been changed to “Blessed.”  You may be blessed even when you are filled with sorrow.  This change, together with the reference to “the supper of the Lamb,” makes clear the vision of John in the Book of Revelation.

Your reply makes two changes.  You will soon respond… “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”  Recall the Roman Centurion that asked Jesus to heal his servant, saying those words.  We imitate the humility of this centurion so that Jesus won’t avoid us, but will come to us on the strength of our virtue.

The other change is the words, “my soul shall be healed.”  We are directly asking for spiritual healing that only Jesus can bring.

When you receive communion, the words won’t change.  “The Body of Christ.”  “AMEN”  “The Blood of Christ.” “AMEN” 

You may have seen that Bishop Olmsted has issued new regulations for Communion under both kinds in our Diocese.  Those regulations were effective last week on Monday, and in effect didn’t change anything we are currently doing at St. Gabriel’s.  He is leaving the decision on communion from the chalice up to the pastor.

What Bishop Olmsted wants is a new understanding of what we do when we receive the Eucharist and a renewed reverence for the Eucharist under both kinds.  So we will still be offering communion from the cup at St. Gabriel’s.

After communion there is a moment of quiet.  After the prayer after communion, there is a blessing that may be done in a couple of ways.  There is a simple blessing, a solemn blessing, or a prayer over the people blessing.  If you hear the words: “Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing,” simply do so.

At the dismissal, the deacon has four options now.  He can’t make things up anymore.  “Go forth, the Mass is ended,” “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,” “God in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life,” or simply “Go in peace.”

These new formulas were promoted at a meeting of bishops in Rome recently, and included in the Missal by the Pope.  Even though the words of dismissal are new your response is the same: “Thanks be to God.”

The new translation starts, let’s embrace our opportunity to conscious, active participation!