Faith Formation on the Mass Session 4: The Liturgy of the Eucharist Doris Murphy & Bill Huebsch Background: After the Liturgy of the Word, we turn to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This rite culminates in our reception of Holy Communion with the Christian community. We both receive and become the Body of Christ. Objectives: To recognize Jesus, in the breaking and the sharing of the bread, as the Eucharist. To appreciate the Our Father as the universal prayer of Christians To see the sign of peace as a symbolic gesture To recognize the Eucharist as a form of reconciliation To say AMEN to what we are- the Body of Christ Church Teachings: Catechism of the Catholic Church: articles 1355, 1382, 1394-1396, 1416, 2767 Growing Faith booklet #25 Materials to have ready from the parish or school: Microphone and lectern (optional, and if needed ) Lectionary for breaking open the Word, and CD player for music Nametags and markers Place a special table in the center of the space. On it, place the Scriptures and candle from the last session, but now add a loaf of bread and glass of wine or grape juice. Use a large enough table that it will be an obvious sign of the altar we use at Mass. Near the prayer space have a large cross well displayed Handouts 1: Presenting Our Gifts 2: Understanding the Preface 3: The Meaning of the Lord s Prayer 4: Praying for Peace Refreshments for before and after the gathering If possible, provide each participant with one of the missals used for Liturgy in your parish, to help them follow along as you review the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Materials to have ready at each table: All handouts Small loaf of bread and cup of wine or grape juice at each table Colors, markers, paper Small slips of paper, pencils A Bible Materials to download from: www.pastoralplanning.com This outline which includes (1) the order of the event, (2) a segment teaching the content, (3) the opening and closing prayer services for this event, and (4) all the handouts. The Question of the Week for breaking open the Word at the conclusion of the Gathering. This is always free from the web site. Gather and Welcome 30 minutes prior to presentation This is an opportunity to welcome everyone, especially those people who may not have attended the first gatherings of this series. Please make them feel welcome and comfortable. You may want to give them the handouts from the previous weeks so they are aware of the material that was covered in those sessions. Supply name tags for everyone, near the doorway outside the room Provide beverages to refresh the guests. Table leaders arrive 15 minutes early to be at their tables to greet people as they arrive. Be sure to introduce any new people. Greet people at the door and provide child care if necessary for those under the age of six. Pastor and staff should again be seated at various tables. Play song Gather Us In softly as everyone arrives. Keep the lights low and have each table ready with tonight s supplies and décor. 2
Checking In It is important to start on time. Let s be fair to those who do arrive punctually, and form good habits of arrival for each session. 5 minutes Lead Catechist: The lead catechist introduces him or herself and welcomes everyone formally from the center of the room, using a microphone if necessary. Welcome any people who were not there previously and proceed without much fanfare or explanation. Ask each table group to talk amongst themselves, going around the table and letting each person introduce him or herself by giving their: Name and where they live One thing which has happened this week for which they give thanks. Call to Prayer 6-8 minutes Leader or Presider: Draw the group s attention once more with a rainstick, piano chords, or bell. Begin as always with the Sign of the Cross. Cantor or recorded music: Table of Plenty, Breaking Bread #310. Breaking open the song with faith sharing: As you follow the words of this song, which lines or phrase strikes you as meaningful at this time? Are there any words or phrases that you do not understand? What do these words tell you about the Mass you attend? Learn-About-It Segment Approximately 45 minutes Part one: Presentation & Discussion The Lead Catechist facilitates this, using these or similar words. Keep all your presentation times brief. 8-10 minutes 1. Presentation: Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts Using handout one, invite each person in the room to identify which gifts they have to bring to the Liturgy. The gifts we bring may be material, such as money or food for the hungry, but they may also be spiritual, such as memories, a desire to pray, and a love for our community, or a talent. The Offertory at Mass is an offering from US, not merely from those in the Offertory Procession. All of us bring what we have and offer it in these prayers. As each table finishes, invite each participant to choose one gift from their chart. As the Leader, stand near the center table, with the Bible and candle on it. Then invite each person to come forward to the table, flowing from each table at random, and one-by-one, to bow before the 3
center table, and to say aloud the gift which they bring to offer. They should use the words on the handout, I offer. After each presentation, the whole community responds: Blessed be God forever! This short phrase is one of the oldest prayers of the Church! 8-10 minutes 2. Presentation: The Eucharistic Prayer The Eucharistic prayer is the greatest thanksgiving prayer of the Church. It begins with a dialogue between the priest and the people. This gets us involved in the action which is to take place. You know these responses by heart. Join me now in responding with great feeling: Priest/Leader: The Lord be with you All: And with your Spirit Priest/Leader: Lift up your hearts All: We lift them up to the Lord Priest/Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God All: It is right to give God thanks and praise The preface & Holy Holy Holy. Next, the priest prays an introductory prayer. It introduces the formal Eucharistic prayer. The Church provides eighty-one different prefaces, many specifically written for a Feast or Holy Day. The priest may either read or sing this prayer. The words of the prayer tell us something about the feast we are celebrating and they remind us of the wonderful works of God. They tell the reason we are here: to give God thanks and praise! The format of this prayer follows a certain outline: I will now read one of them to you. Here read the preface found in handout #2. At the end of it, we rejoice and sing Holy, holy, holy with all the angels and saints who are with God. Using handout two, allow each participant to write his or her own Preface as a way of learning how the Preface is structured. After this, turn to handout three and ask participants to identify the meaning of the words we now sing or pray in the Holy Holy Holy. 8-10 minutes 3. Praying the Eucharistic Prayer. The leader now spends a short time helping everyone understand the key place of the Eucharistic prayer in Catholic life, using these or similar words. You may wish to use Eucharistic Prayer #2 as your example, since it is the shortest and clearest. If you re using missals on the tables, ask participants to follow along as you explain each part of the prayer. The Eucharistic Prayer is the center and summit of the entire celebration... The meaning of the Prayer is that the entire congregation of the faithful should join itself with Christ in confessing the great deeds of God and in the offering of Sacrifice. In the Eucharistic Prayer the Church implores the power of the Holy Spirit that the gifts offered by human hands be consecrated, that is, become Christ s Body and Blood, and that the spotless Victim to be received in Communion be for the salvation of those who will partake of it. In this very memorial, the Church - and in particular the Church here and now gathered - offers in the Holy Spirit the spotless Victim to the Father. The Church s intention, however, is that the faithful 4
not only offer this spotless Victim but also learn to offer themselves, and so day by day to be consummated, through Christ the Mediator, into unity with God and with each other, so that at last God may be all in all. The Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the entire Church, of heaven as well as of earth, and the offering is made for her and for all her members, living and dead, who have been called to participate in the redemption and the salvation purchased by Christ s Body and Blood. We remember. This is the opposite of amnesia, which means to forget. During this prayer we remember all that God has done for us: the Passion, Resurrection and glorious return of Christ Jesus. We listen especially for the words that Jesus said: Do this in remembrance of me. We believe that Jesus continues his presence in our midst. To remember brings together the past, the present, and the future. The words remember, memorial, remembrance, memory, are used over and over. We call on the Holy Spirit to change these simple gifts of bread and wine into the Body and Blood - the continuing presence of Jesus - which our community of faith will share at Communion. The priest also calls on the Holy Spirit to change us, the people gathered. Taking part in the Eucharist forms us into the one body and spirit of Christ. WE are to be Christ Jesus in the world today. We repeat the words of Jesus, This is my Body and This is the cup of my blood. Christ is sacramentally present. The priest then asks us to make a memorial acclamation of our own faith and so we say or sing: We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again or a similar acclamation. This IS the great mystery of our faith. We join with the entire church, living and dead. Gathered as we are here as God s family, we join our hearts and prayers with all faithful people everywhere. At the conclusion of the Eucharistic prayer we sing the great AMEN. Sing this acclamation with high energy for we are saying YES, I believe, YES, I agree, YES, I want to follow Jesus. 5 minutes 4. Presentation/Activity: The Lord s Prayer Invite someone to read Luke 11:1 4. The Our Father is always prayed when Christians gather together for common prayer. This is one prayer that Christians of all denominations are able to pray together. Does everyone in each small group know this prayer? Using handout four, invite participants to work together in order to match the phrases from the Our Father with their meaning. 4 minutes 5. Presentation/ Activity: Sign of Peace Peace is an important part of being Christian. Jesus is called the prince of peace. Jesus voiced the same words of peace to his apostles that we hear at each Mass. Using handout five, name people and places where we wish for and pray for peace. (e.g. our family, Iraq, Darfur) 5
8-10 minutes 6. Presentation/Activity: Breaking of the Bread Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the One who was offered, sacrificed, and given for us. Just as the priest takes the host and breaks it, placing a small piece in the cup, we may at times feel broken and asked to be willing to sacrifice for the good of others. This is called the paschal mystery, the willingness to die to ourselves and rise anew with Christ. This is not only at the end of time but each day of our lives. This is living the paschal mystery. Activity: Invite each participant to take two small slips of paper. On each slip, ask them to write something that he or she is willing to sacrifice for someone else. For example, are they willing to use less water for the sake of all? Are they willing to give money for the poor? Are they willing to recycle, to pray, to write their congress people? We ll use these in the closing prayer. 4 minutes 7. Presentation: The Rite of Communion Priest: 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. All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. We bow our heads in reverence and loudly proclaim AMEN when we receive communion. When we say Amen, we are saying Yes, I accept and take in, I receive and love, the very Body of Christ himself! It is very important to say Amen clearly, as a promise of our belief. 2 minutes 8. We are sent out! At the conclusion of the Mass, the priest sends us out to the world. What is our job there, now that we have received the Body of Christ? What are we sent to do? Evaluation 3 Minutes Leader: Hand out a short written evaluation tool that can be quickly filled in and briefly shared in the table group. [You may download this from the web site with no charge] 6
Closing Evening Prayer 10 Minutes Presider: Call all to prayer, with the rainstick, soft piano chords or soft bell. Cantor or recorded music: Table of Plenty, Breaking Bread #310. We re-use the song here which we used earlier, as a way of helping people remember it and integrate the meaning of the words. Breaking Open the Word Presider: Proclaim the Gospel or other appropriate reading from the previous or following Sunday s Liturgy of the Word. Part One: presider: What did you hear? What word or phrase caught and held your attention? After a very brief pause, ask the Table Leaders to begin and let anyone respond at their table who would like to do so. Part Two: presider: Share the Question of the Week. Ask the Table Leaders to once again comment first if others are reluctant, and encourage others around the table to do the same. Presider: Call everyone s attention back to the central group and invite at least one person from each small group to share their household prayer. If time is running late, or if people seem reluctant, or if you feel it right, simply end with the Our Father. The lead catechist or presider now prays a brief, spontaneous prayer in conversation with God to express thanks for the evening and for the blessings of our lives. During this prayer, invite the participants to come forward with their slips of paper with their promises on them, and place them reverently in a bowl on the table as their commitment to become the Body of Christ for the world. Play the song during this procession. When all have come forward, end with, We ask this prayer, through Christ our Lord, All: Amen Shared Food and Hospitality Hospitality Team Invite everyone, including the pastor and staff, to share in the food. 7
Handout #1: Presenting Our Gifts at the Offertory In each category of needs, list what you offer when you come to Mass. In the Offertory Procession, please respond after each gift is presented, using this response: Blessed be God forever! What the Church needs The Church needs material goods such as money. What do you offer to God & the Church? I offer The Church needs our time & talents, such as teaching, leading, serving, and others. I offer The Church needs prayer for the sick, for world peace, and for other needs. I offer The Church needs our presence, at Mass and other events, to support the community. I offer The Church needs us to work for justice for the oppressed and rejected. I offer The Church needs us to alleviate the suffering of the poor, to visit the sick, to care for prisoners, immigrants, and newcomers. I offer The Church needs us to help pass on the faith to others, to invite those who are not in the community to join it. I offer 8
Handout #2: The Preface What we pray in the Preface Father in Heaven, it is our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ This prayer in your own words He is the Word through whom you made the universe, the savior you sent to redeem us. By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary For our sake he opened his arms on the cross he put an end to death and revealed the resurrection. In this he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. And so we join the angels and the saints in proclaiming your glory as we say: 9
Handout #3: Holy Holy Holy The dialogue and words of the Holy Holy Holy May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. Re-write these prayers in your own words. Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit. Priest: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right and just. Holy, Holy, Holy 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. 10
Handout #4: The Lord s Prayer On this chart, match each part of the Lord s Prayer on the left to its meaning on the right. From the Lord s Prayer What it means Our Father who art in Heaven Yes! I agree! Hallowed be your name. Pardon our sins as we pardon other people s sins. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You are God in heaven! Give us this day our daily bread Prevent us from leaning toward what is not right and good And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Your name is holy! And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Give us enough for each day Amen. May your powerful reign be established in the world! 11
Handout #5: We pray for Peace! Where on earth do we need to pray for peace? In our own country In Latin America In the Middle East In Africa In Europe In Russia and eastern Europe In India and Pakistan where else? 12
Sharing Faith Together The Question of the Week Breaking Open the Word Week of (date) # Sunday in (Season of the year) 1. The Call to Prayer Leader: My friends, let s pause to spend a few moments in prayer and conversation with each other. [Lead all in the Sign of the Cross] + In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 2. The Word of God Leader: May the Lord be in our hearts as we recall and re-listen to a reading from last Sunday s Liturgy of the Word. [Re-read all or part of the suggested reading.] Readings from last Sunday are: First reading: Second reading: Gospel reading: Reading suggested for this Week s sharing: 3. The Two Faith Sharing Questions Leader: As we consider this Sacred Scripture, I invite you to think about it in two dimensions. [You may wish to work in small groups if your number is large.] First, ask about the text itself, to draw attention to the Scripture. o What word or phrase in this text caught your ear? o What story did you hear, or what image did you get? o What touched you as you heard this reading? Second, when the first sharing is complete, ask about the people s lives. o Use this Question of the Week to help people get started sharing faith: o Here insert a Question specific to this week s readings 4. The Prayer. At the end of the sharing period, invite folks to pray in one of the following ways: The Lord s Prayer out loud together Spontaneous prayers A moment of silent prayer Listen to a recorded hymn 13