What is Prayed is What is Believed
/Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ! A topic that beguiles both ear and heart of every Seven Sister, anytime or any place, is prayer. The highest form of prayer, the holy Mass, merits special attention. Our learning never ends. Liturgy is ever ancient, ever new.
For almost two millennia, prayers have poured from the hearts of priests during the divine liturgy. Within these sacred mysteries of the Mass, the priest offers prayers for all the congregation to hear, and others quietly or without a sound. These latter prayers are referred to as the silent, secret, mystical or personal prayers of the priest.
One might notice the priest’s lips moving or catch a few faint sounds. Herein the priest offers prayers between he and God. Benedictine monk, Fr Boniface Hicks, reflects, “…we are fully engaged in something in those moments that words would only cheapen. Like the silence that fills heaven for about half an hour when the Lamb opens the seventh seal (Revelation 8:1), silence in the Mass is a sign that something profound has happened and we are summoned to sustain our interior attention without the distraction even of good words or other gestures.”
These prayers serve as reminders and even invitations of personal and collective interior dialogue between God and each participant at Mass, including the celebrant priest. Fr Boniface explains, “He is not merely a functionary who mechanically carries out certain ritual words and gestures in order to bring about a particular result, however powerful and important that result may be. He is also personally a participant in these sacred mysteries. His own relationship with God grows through his silent, internal participation in the prayers of the Mass.”
The first of the priest’s quiet prayers is breathed out as he bows before the altar in preparation for the proclamation of the Gospel. The gesture rightly connects the Liturgy of the Word and that of the Eucharist. His prayer prepares him for both: “Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel”. At the end of the proclamation, the priest reverentially kisses the Missal and embraces all present in praying: “Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.”
The next whispered words are expressed during the Offertory. As drops of water co-mingle with unconsecrated wine in the Chalice, the priest prays, “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.” After expressing gratitude to God for the natural gifts of bread and wine deigned to become our spiritual food, the priest celebrant bows and reminds of another co-mingling – the self-sacrifice of the priest and our sacrifices, “With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God.” The Lavabo (hand washing), hearkening to our Baptism, follows, along with more personal, silent prayers, “Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
After the Eucharistic Prayer, Lord’s Prayer and Sign of Peace, the Mass continues to the Agnus Dei. As the assembly prays, the priest places a morsel of the broken Host into the chalice, offering: “May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.” Following, the celebrant folds his hands and prays one of these two prayers (in the Latin Mass both prayers are offered): (1) “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, through your death gave life to the world, free me by this, your most holy Body and Blood from all my sins and from every evil; keep me always faithful to your commandments, and never let me be parted from you.” OR (2) “May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving mercy be for me protection in mind and body and a healing remedy.”
The final three mystical prayers of the priest during the Mass are linked to his Communion. Before consuming the Body of Christ, he intentionally prays: “May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.”Before partaking of the Blood of Christ, he prays: “May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.” Lastly, while purifying the sacred vessels, the priest enfolds us in this sacred plea, “What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.”
The Latin perhaps encapsulates the crux of the silent prayers the best: Lex orandi, Lex credendi - What is prayed is what is believed. Our shepherds stand to be made radiant by their fidelity to these intimate, oft-repeated prayers. As our priests, in turn, these prayers call forth radiant lives from us, as well. Fr Boniface summarizes in reflection of the silent prayers of the priest, “The priest stands by the grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the position of the Divine Bridegroom and it is his responsibility to pray, preside, and speak in such a way that he opens the heart of the Bride to receive her divine Bridegroom more fully, consciously, and actively in his Word and in his Body.” As Seven Sisters let us be sentient to these mystical prayers. Through our sacrifices of prayers, may we bolster the authentic living out of these personal prayers of each priest and bishop for whom we offer Holy Hours. Lex orandi, Lex credendi.
United in prayer and mission...that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest...... eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day.... “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not 'spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted...' (St Teresa of Calcutta) ... your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate. THANK YOU! The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.
Janette (Howe)
+JMJ+
sevensistersapostolate@gmail.com
Translation: “What is prayed is what is believed.”