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ROME, 4 MARCH 2008 (ZENIT) Answered by Legionary of Christ Father
Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum
university.
Q: During Sundays and weekdays of Lent, is it permissible to use one of
the two Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation rather than one of the
usual four Eucharistic Prayers?
—
L.N., Nairobi, Kenya
A: The inclusion of the Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation, along
with those for Various Needs and the special ones for children's Masses,
in the new Latin Missal means that these Eucharistic Prayers now form a
stable part of the Church's treasury of liturgical prayer.
Previously, these prayers were technically approved by various ad hoc or
experimental measures, although usually with no established time limit.
They had been already included in some official translations of the full
Roman Missal, such as the Spanish and Italian versions.
Regarding the use of the Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation, the
rubric in the Latin Missal notes the following.
These prayers may be used in Masses in which the mystery of
reconciliation is particularly emphasized to the faithful. These include
the Mass formulas for such needs as promoting social harmony,
reconciliation, justice and peace, in times of war and social unrest,
for the remission of sin, for the promotion of charity, the mystery of
the Holy Cross, of the Holy Eucharist, and of the Precious Blood. Also
included are Masses during Lent.
Although these Eucharistic Prayers have their own proper preface, it is
permissible to use them with another preface that refers in some way to
the themes of penance and conversion, for example, with the prefaces of
Lent.
From the aforesaid, it is thus clear that these Eucharistic Prayers may
be used during Lent.
The rubrics make no distinction between weekdays and Sundays, and so
there is no reason why their use would be restricted on the Lord's Day,
provided that one respects the proper prefaces that must be used on
certain Lenten Sundays.
As well as the Masses suggested in the rubrics, these Eucharistic
Prayers often prove useful during retreats and spiritual exercises when
the time comes to foment reconciliation with God and discover his mercy.
* * * Follow-up: Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation
[3-18-2008]
After our comments on the use of the Eucharistic Prayers for
Reconciliation during Lent (see March 4), a reader from Nairobi, Kenya,
asked for clarifications regarding the prayers for Various Needs. He
wrote:
"You had a note on the Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation: 'Although
these Eucharistic Prayers have their own proper preface, it is
permissible to use them with another preface that refers in some way to
the themes of penance and conversion, for example, with the prefaces of
Lent.'
"I presume this does not apply, however, to the four 'Eucharistic
Prayers for Various Needs' which you also mentioned. Would I be right to
assume that their prefaces are meant to be "fixed," like that of
Eucharistic Prayer IV?"
Since no mention of substituting the preface is made in the Latin
rubrics, our correspondent is correct in presuming that these four
prayers may not be separated from their prefaces.
For this reason, using these prayers is limited to occasions when a Mass
for Various Needs may be celebrated. Consequently, they are used above
all during ordinary time as the celebration of these Masses is more or
less restricted during the major liturgical seasons.
Actually, we are not really referring to four different Eucharistic
Prayers, but of four versions of a single prayer that accentuate
different themes. This accentuation is done above all during the preface
of each version and in a section of the intercessions following the
consecration.
Thus, separating these prayers from their preface would also undermine
the particular theme that the prayer seeks to stress.
The first version
—
"The Church progressing in the path of unity"
—
is especially apt for Masses for the Pope, for the bishop, for the
election of a Pope, for a council or synod, for priests, for the
celebrating priest, for the ministers of the Church, and on the occasion
of a spiritual or ecclesial assembly.
The second rendering
—
"God leads his Church in the way of salvation"
—
is recommended for Masses for the Church, for vocations, for the laity,
for the family, for religious, for postulating charity, for relatives
and friends, and Masses in thanksgiving.
The third adaptation
—
"Jesus the way to the Father"
—
is particularly suitable for Masses for the evangelization of peoples,
for persecuted Christians, for the country or the city, for the head of
state or government, for the parliament, at the beginning of the civil
year, and for the progress of peoples.
The fourth hue of this Eucharistic Prayer
—
"Jesus, going about doing good"
—
is especially germane to Masses for refugees and exiles, in time of
famine or for those suffering from hunger, for those who afflict or
persecute us, for captives or those in prison, for the sick, for the
dying, for imploring the grace of a good death, for any need.
This partial review of the Masses for Various Needs also affords us the
opportunity of unearthing the treasury of the Church's intercessory
prayer, so often left concealed and coffined in the missal.
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