From the Rector:

       Within the large prayer called The Great Thanksgiving two portions are important.  One is the Words of Institution in which the story of how the Holy Eucharist was begun by Jesus and the other is called the “epiclesis” or invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the gifts of bread and wine. 

       One of the criticisms of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England is that it lacks a proper epiclesis.  (The Church of England corrected this problem in 1980.)  When Samuel Seabury went seeking bishops in Apostolic Succession,  to make him a bishop, the nonjuring Scotts were willing to lay hands upon him on condition that a proper epiclesis would be added to the new American Book of Common Prayer. 

       This set up a conflict because the other two bishops, White and Provost,  were ordained by British bishops.  Many American Anglicans simply wanted to make the least changes to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer that were necessary for it to be used in the new church in America.

       This dispute came close to preventing the formation of the Episcopal Church.  Eventually, the new church did rewrite the service of Holy Eucharist and the Great Thanksgiving that resulted in much the same as our present Prayer 1 which begins on page 333 of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

       Within that prayer is the petition that forms the epiclesis:

And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us; and of thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine; that we receiving them according to thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.

       If you follow the ceremonial used by priests as we celebrate, the norm is some form of cross(es) made over the elements at this point in the celebration.  An instructive process is to go through each of the six prayers of Great Thanksgiving and look for 1) the Words of Institution and 2) the epiclesis which are found in each of the prayers.  You can also look at the outline for minimums found on page 400-405.  Can you find both in all of the prayers?

       Some of the prayers also invoke the Holy Spirit on those who are gathered in celebration.  At those points we are asking for God’s Holy Spirit to come upon us.  This is much clearer in the modern Eucharistic Prayers, but it is also present in Rite 1. 

       Knowing the parts of the prayers helps us in our praying because we understand more of what we are asking in our prayers.  Better understanding also gives clarity to our understanding of the Holy Eucharist and allows us to participate actively and accurately in those prayers. 

       I believe that these two parts of the Prayer of Great Thanksgiving are essentials for a valid and proper consecration of the elements.  Other parts are important and helpful, but not essential.  I like the Prayer of Humble Access found in Rite 1 and I know that other people join in that understanding.  However, it is not an essential in the same way that the Words of Institution and epiclesis are. 

       The Great Amen is our joining with the celebrant in making the prayer our own prayer.  We say, “Let it be” or “I agree.”  Our Amens at the end of the Eucharistic Prayers should be hardy and strong.  It is also our affirmation that Christ is present to us in bread and wine.

       Our prayers are important, our prayer language is important, and our understanding of how we pray is important.  Your full participation is invited by the Prayer Book.  Our theology of what we believe is spelled out in how we pray.  Jim+

March 8, 2006