Eucharist Is An Active Verb

Session 3 of our "Becoming Eucharistic People" Series

Presented Oct. 17 by Elizabeth Madeo

Session 3 of our series is a guided meditation based on the parts of the Mass. As the Spirit moves us through these sacred actions and words, the Eucharist invites us to experience the Divine. Praying the prayers that Jesus prayed and hearing the Word dwelling among us, we are challenged to offer ourselves to be blessed, broken and given back, to give what we have received, to be Eucharist to others.

Elizabeth begins her talk with a meditation on this paragraph from the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy:

The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should be instructed by God’s word and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn also to offer themselves; through Christ the Mediator [38], they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all.

Here is an outline of Elizabeth’s Talk

1 Introduction to the talk

2. Meditation on paragraph 48 of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. (Beginning at 13:09 on the video.)

3. The introductory rites of the Mass bring us into focus, give us actions to invite unity, and prepare us for Christ in the Assembly. (Beginning at 17:56.)

4, A sometimes neglected part of the Liturgy of the Word is the Psalm. Psalms are the prayers that Jesus prayed. (beginning at 23:48)

5. The Liturgy of the Eucharist. (Beginning at 28:45) We come from many places to this one place at this one time. The church mirrors the community gathered.

Beginning at 33:33 is a meditation on the Presentation of the Gifts, a model for the cyclical life into which Jesus invites us.

6. Group Discussion on two questions: 1) What is something in the Eucharistic Prayer that is catching my attention right now? 2) What do you think of this idea of “the cyclical life”? (Beginning at 41:14.)

7. The Closing Rites. They are not just a wrap-up; they are sending us forth. (Beginning at 47:54.)

All of the videos in this series can be found here: Becoming Eucharistic People Video Series.

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Register for the following upcoming sessions here:  Becoming Eucharistic People Registration page

Coming Next in the Series

Session 4: Packing for Mission
Oct. 24 | 6:30-8 p.m.
Presented by Vicky Otto

The Eucharist calls us, the People of God, to be missionary disciples, and the Synod reminds us that we each have a rightful place in the Church to exercise the gifts bestowed upon us at Baptism. Join us to explore what we need to pack (or repack) for our missionary journey.