Handout #38

A eucharistic prayer form the beginning of the third century 

Let the deacons bring the oblation and the bishop with all the presbyters laying his hand on the oblation say, giving thanks, 'The Lord be with you'. And the people shall say: 'And with your spirit'. 'Lift up your hearts. We have them with the Lord. Let us give thanks unto the Lord. It is meet and right'. And then he shall continue thus: 'We give you thanks, 0 God, through your beloved child Jesus Christ whom in the last times you did send to us a savior and redeemer and messenger of your counsel, who is your word inseparable through whom you made all things and in whom You were well pleased, whom you did send from heaven into the Virgin's womb and who, conceived within her, was made flesh and demonstrated to be your Son, being born of the Holy Spirit and a Virgin. Who, fulfilling your will and preparing for you a holy people, stretched forth his hands for suffering, that he might release from sufferings those who have believed in you'.

"Who when he was betrayed to voluntary suffering that he might abolish death and rend the bonds of the devil and tread down hell and enlighten the righteous and establish the ordinance and demonstrate the resurrection, taking bread and making eucharist to you said, 'Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you.' Likewise also the cup, saying, 'this is my blood which is shed for you. When you do this you make memory of me.' Therefore making memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you the bread and the cup, making eucharist to you because you have bidden us to stand before you and minister as priests to you. And we pray you to grant to all your saints who partake to be united to you that they may be fufilled with your Holy Spirit for the confirmation of their faith in truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your child Jesus Christ, through whom glory and honor be to you with the Holy Spirit in your holy church now and forever, and world without end."

And the bishop shall give thanks according to this model. It is not altogether necessary for him to recite the very same words which we gave before as though studying to say them by heart in his Thanksgiving to God; but let each one pray according to his own ability. If indeed he is able to pray suitably with a grand and elevated prayer this is a good thing. But on the other hand he should pray and recite a prayer according to a fixed form, no one shall prevent him.  Only let his prayer be correct and right in doctrine. Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition, I, iv, 4-13; x, 4-5.