The Parts of the Roman Canon

Every one of the Eucharistic Prayers used in the Sacred Liturgy of the Roman Rite today contain basically the same elements of prayer. The First Eucharistic Prayer, also called the Roman Canon, has been in the longest continuous use and, it can be argued, is the most theologically developed of them all. For that reason, we will look at the various parts of that prayer.
           
It is a universal practice for editors/publishers of the Roman Missal to place a depiction of the crucifixion immediately before the beginning of the text of the Roman Canon, and therefore, before the collection of the four Eucharistic Prayers in most common use. This practice is due to the first letter of the first word of the Roman Canon being an upper case “T” from the Latin word “Te,” which means “To You,” referring to God the Father. This “T,” often referred to as a “Tau,” became in the minds of those who hand copied and later printed the Missals, the cross on which the Lord offered Himself for our salvation. Thus, the first word of the Roman Canon brings together for us two tremendous truths of the Eucharistic Sacrifice: first that it is to the Heavenly Father that this prayer is addressed, and second that this sacred act is the Sacrifice of the Cross made present.
           
Praying this first part of the Roman Canon, the priest addresses God saying “ To you, therefore, Most Merciful Father we make humble prayer and petition through Jesus Christ, your Son, Our Lord.” This sets the whole stance of this most sacred part of the Mass. It is the profound attitude of coming with “humble prayer and petition” and asking the Father to “accept and bless these gifts, these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices which we offer.” It is all about sacrifice. That is the whole point. It is begging the Father’s blessing upon the “gifts, offerings, holy and unblemished sacrifices” of bread and wine. The priest makes the sign of the cross over the bread and wine, indicating that he does not only ask the Father’s blessing, but he is also intimately involved in blessing the bread and wine, because, as a priest, he is standing “in the Person of Christ.”
           
These offerings of bread and wine become the efficacious Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. For this is no mere ritual re-enactment of empty symbols and gestures. Instead, this becomes the real and true Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. It is into these sacred mysteries made present that we are invited, yes, even immersed. This effective and life-giving Sacrifice is offered first for the “Holy Catholic Church.” This prayer asks the Father to “guard, unite and govern her throughout the whole world.” We also pray here for the Pope, our local Bishop, and all those who hold and teach the catholic and apostolic faith.
           
This first part of the Roman Canon clearly tells us why we gather before the altar—it is to approach the Father with confidence through the Sacrifice of His Son.

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh