Christians have been told that the Eucharistic prayer is the high point of the celebration of mass as it is during this period called consecration, when the bread is transformed into the body of Christ and the wine into the blood of Christ. This teaching was delivered this 4th day of December 2023 by Bishop Michael Bibi during his catechetical session with Christians at St. Charles Lwanga parish Molyko.
Bishop Bibi teaches on the liturgy of the Eucharist.
The teachings of this session focused on the Liturgy of the Eucharist explained in the general instructions of the Roman Missal from paragraph 72 to 90, and the concluding rites of the mass. According to this teaching, the liturgy of the Eucharist is made up of three main parts: the preparation of gifts, the Eucharistic prayer and the communion rite. The prelate explained that the preparation of the gifts begins with the procession with bread and wine by the faithful. This is received by the priest who prepares the gift for the sacrifice to proceed. Thereafter is the offertory in kind or cash. The priest receives these gifts and prays the payer of thanksgiving and blessings.
After the preparation of the gift the Bishop noted, is the Eucharistic prayer which is the moment during which the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. He went further to explain that there are four Eucharistic prayers for the celebration of mass and the priest decides which of them to use . However, these Eucharistic prayers are all made up of eight essential elements which are: Thanksgiving, acclamation, epiclesis (which is the invocation of the holy spirit), the institution narrative (when the bread and wine changes into the body and blood of Christ), the anamnesis, the oblation, the intercession and the concluding doxology.
Bishop Michael Bibi further noted that the last part of the liturgy of the Eucharist is the communion rite which closes with the concluding prayer which ends the liturgy of the Eucharist. After making these clarifications, the chief catechist told Christians that during the liturgy of the Eucharist, it is expected that the songs by the choir should reflect the celebration of the Eucharist . He also corrected the wrong practice by Christians who stand when the procession with bread and wine is ongoing. Here he noted, Christians should be seated during this period because the gift is bread and wine and not the body and blood of Christ.
Bishop Bibi explains the significance of the advent candles.
At the close of the session the prelate explained the significance of the advent candles and enjoined Christians to live in the spirit of peace, hope, love and joy during this advent season.
