3rd Sunday in Ordinary Times

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Someone recently asked me about the names that are proclaimed in the eucharistic prayer. There are ten eucharistic prayers approved for use in the Roman Church. In every one of them we recognize our unity not just with our fellow believers around the world but also with those who have gone before us. Accordingly, we pray for all believers, both living and deceased. We pray specifically for the pope and our local bishops, not because they are more important than any other believers but because they symbolize the unity of our Catholic Church. In each eucharistic prayer we unite ourselves with Mary, the mother of Jesus. In Eucharistic Prayer 3 and in the Eucharistic Prayer for Special Occasions we also have the option of recognizing the saint of the day or the patron of the local community (eg Saint Leonard of Port Maurice).

In Eucharistic Prayer 1, the oldest in the Roman rite, a number of other ancient believers are likewise mentioned: Peter and Paul, John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, and (since 1962) Joseph. The other apostles may be mentioned, as may some of the martyrs of the first three centuries (many of them bishops of Rome). Although they are not included in the official texts, I usually mention Mary Magdalene among the apostles (taking a cue from Saint Augustine, whom no one has ever accused of being a feminist) and Mary and Martha among the disciples. Eucharistic Prayer 1 makes reference to three Old Testament sacrifices: those of Abel, Melchizedek, and Abraham (all figuring in the Book of Genesis). During Advent-Christmas I tend to mention Tamar (Genesis) rather than Abel; and during Lent-Easter, Miriam (Exodus) rather than Abraham. And the point of all of this? We do not pray in isolation but in unity with God’s “people of every race, language, and way of life” (cf 2nd Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation).
Peace and every blessing,

Loren, OFM