Eucharistic
Prayers - How many?
At the present time there are 13 Eucharistic Prayers approved by Rome for use in the
United States.
In the Sacramentary (altar missal) there are nine (9) Eucharistic Prayers. These
include:
· 4 universal
Eucharistic Prayers (the Roman Canon and 3 others)
· 3 Eucharistic
Prayers for Masses with Children
· 2 Eucharistic
Prayers for Masses of Reconciliation
In a red booklet Eucharistic Prayer for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions
(Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1996), there are 4 additional Eucharistic Prayers. These
four are essentially one, called the Swiss Canon. This canon (in use for many
years in Italy and elsewhere) has three variations, which for ease of use were printed
separately. All 4 versions begin, "You are truly blessed, O God of holiness: you
accompany us with love as we journey through life. Blessed too is your Son, Jesus Christ,
who is present among us together." The variations are in the Preface and after the
Consecration. The four are called:
· The Church
on the Way to Unity
· God Guides the Church on
the Way of Salvation
· Jesus, Way to the Father
· Jesus, the Compassion of
God
Both the missal and the booklet (ISBN 089942-043-5) should be available from Catholic
bookstores and supply houses.
Answered by Colin B. Donovan, STL |
