LITURGY LESSON: EUCHARISTIC PRAYER #5,
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION
(Given
We
continue with our Liturgy Lessons on the Eucharistic Prayer. . . . Very often
the Lessons have explained that what we might think is new is really rooted in
ancient Christian practice. Historical examples have often been given. Today we
are going to talk about something that is relatively new to the Roman Catholic
Liturgy since the second Vatican
At
present there are four memorial acclamations used in the Roman Catholic Church:
·
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ
will come again.
·
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you
restore our life. Lord Jesus, come in
glory.
·
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
·
Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you
have set us free. You are the Savior of
the world.
The
Church inserted this acclamation in the Roman Liturgy in 1967 so that the
entire community could participate in the memorial. In other words, Jesus said, “Do this is in
memory of me,” and we are remembering the Mystery of Faith.... What is the
mystery of faith? Here is how one author describes it:
The mystery of faith is the paschal
mystery, the mystery of Christ dying, rising and being present among his
people. It is the whole plan of God realized in Christ’s saving love.[1]
So
the Church has given the community a way to proclaim what is essential to its
faith. The reason we usually sing this acclamation is to give it a nobility and
joy which reflect our lives as Catholics, for “Christ has died. Christ is
risen. Christ will come again!”
Be
attentive today and sing the acclamation with enthusiasm!
[1]