Deliver us from every evil and grant us peace

Intermountain Catholic

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Theologia Prima
Timothy Johnston

By Timothy Johnston

For the last several weeks, we have been exploring the different parts of the Eucharistic Prayer. In this article, we move to the next section of the Eucharistic liturgy, which is the Communion Rite. The Communion Rites consists of the Lord’s Prayer, the Rite of Peace, the Fraction, and the reception of Communion.

Immediately following the Great Amen, the priest invites the assembly to recite the Lord’s Prayer. You will notice in the new translation that the invitation to pray is different: "At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say. . ." This is similar to a quotation of St. Cyprian (third century).

The Lord’s Prayer has been in the Eucharistic Liturgy since at least the late fourth century and is part of our preparation to receive "our daily bread." We know from the Didache, an early Church order, that the Lord’s Prayer was used as a simple daily prayer at least three times a day.

The embolism near the end of the prayer has slightly changed. One word to listen for is distress, which replaced anxiety. This minor alteration helps broaden the intention of our prayer. Next, the presider asks that we remain safe from all the distress in our lives, which actually causes this internal anxiety. Overall, the embolism, "begs deliverance from the power of evil for the entire community of the faithful" (General Instruction of the Roman Missal 81).

After the Lord’s Prayer, the priest offers a short prayer that peace and unity be granted to the Church, which leads to the exchange of peace. First, the presider offers the assembly peace and we will respond, "And with your spirit." Next, the deacon or the priest invites the assembly to share the sign of peace. This part of the ritual is optional.

We know from Justin Martyr (second century) that the sign of peace was not always at this place in the liturgy. For Justin, the kiss of peace took place right after the general intercessions. The current arrangement came to Rome around the fourth century from the North African Church.

Today, most parish families exchange peace as a gesture of unity and amity "before communicating" at the table of the Lord (GIRM 82). Each Bishops’ Conference can determine the type of gesture that will be used within its region. In the United States, the common practice is a handshake or an embrace. The General Instruction does state, "that each person offer(s) the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner" (82).

Next time you share the sign of Christ’s peace, think, "Am I really at peace with my brothers and sisters?" or "What in my life and relationships needs to be reconciled/healed before I can share in the sacrament of unity?"

Next time, we will continue examining the Communion Rite by discussing the Fraction Rite.

Timothy Johnston is the director of liturgy for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.