Eucharistic Prayer III

 The Sanctus being concluded, the Celebrant continues:

Father most holy, you are worthy of praise, for in your beloved Son, you reveal the depth of your love. Through him you have liberated us from our slavery to sin and death and made of us a family where your boundless gifts are revealed. Invited by his love we have gathered at this altar, and we offer to you, from among the many bounties of your creation, these gifts of bread and wine.

The Celebrant's hands are spread over the Gifts.

Sanctify them now by the power of your Spirit, that they may become + for us the Body and Blood of Jesus the Christ at whose command we celebrate this Eucharist.

The Celebrant takes the bread.

On the night before he suffered, Jesus took bread into his sacred hands, and looking heavenward, to you, his almighty Father, he gave thanks and said the blessing. He then broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

“TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT,

FOR THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.”

The Celebrant takes the cup.

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the cup into his sacred hands. Once again, he gave thanks and said the blessing. He then gave the cup to his disciples and said: 

“TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,

FOR THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD,

THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT.

IT WILL BE SHED FOR YOU, AND FOR ALL, SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN.

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.”

The Celebrant briefly bows. 

And so, Father, with this Bread and this Cup, we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son. 

We rejoice to acclaim him as our Good Shepherd, leading us along life-giving ways and, through his Passion and Death, laying down his life for his flock. Through the power of his Resurrection, we recognize him as our Victor, and know with sure and certain hope that he will return one day refashion us in his glorified image, and consign the shackles of sin, death, and the grave to be forever destroyed in the refiner’s fire. 

The Celebrant briefly joins hands and bows, touching the edge of the Altar,
before standing upright and making the sign of the cross.

As we await that day, we implore you to send the Holy Spirit into our midst to make of us living + sacrifices, wholly dedicated to your service.

 

The Celebrant briefly bows and strikes the breast. 

Father, when we falter and our steps leave your path, bring us back to your ways with gentle compassion, rekindle in us a passion for your ways, and give us the grace to take our place among your great cloud of witnesses, united with you for all eternity through the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, our living our Lord.

 

Elevating the Consecrated Gifts, the Celebrant concludes with the Doxology: 

Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, for ever and ever.
Amen.