Friday, April 14, 2023

Notes from Louis Bouyer, Eucharist: Theology and Spirituality of the Eucharistic Prayer

The following are excerpts from:


Louis Bouyer, Eucharist: Theology and Spirituality of the Eucharistic Prayer [trans. Charles Underhill Quinn; Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1968 


(Birkatha-minim) And for the slanders let there be no hope, and let all the wicked perish in a moment and let all our enemies be speedily cut off, and the dominion of arrogance do thou speedily uproot, and crush and humble in our days. Blessed be thou, JHWH, who breakest the wicked and humblest the arrogant. (Louis Bouyer, Eucharist: Theology and Spirituality of the Eucharistic Prayer [trans. Charles Underhill Quinn; Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1968], 74)

  

(Birkat saddiqim) Towards the righteous and the pious and the true proselytes may thy mercies be stirred, JHWH, our God, and grant a good reward unto all who faithfully trust in thy name and set our portion with them, so that we may never be put to shame. Blessed be thou, YHWH, the stay and trust of the righteous. (Louis Bouyer, Eucharist: Theology and Spirituality of the Eucharistic Prayer [trans. Charles Underhill Quinn; Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1968], 74)

  

The First epiclesis of St. Mark (Egyptian liturgy):

 

Heaven and earth, truly, are full of your holy glory through the epiphany of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ . . .

 

Do this as a memorial for me, for as often as you eat of this bread and drink of this cup, you announce my death and you proclaim my resurrection and my ascension until I come. (Louis Bouyer, Eucharist: Theology and Spirituality of the Eucharistic Prayer [trans. Charles Underhill Quinn; Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1968], 210)

  

From The Antiochian Liturgy of the Twelve Apostles:

 

As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you will announce my death and proclaim my resurrection until I come.

 

(The people answer:) Your death, Lord! We proclaim your resurrection and we await your return.  (Louis Bouyer, Eucharist: Theology and Spirituality of the Eucharistic Prayer [trans. Charles Underhill Quinn; Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1968], 283-84)

 

 From The Antiochian Liturgy of the Twelve Apostles:

 

(The deacon says:) In silence and with fear!

(The celebrant continues:) We beg you, Lord almighty and God of the powers, prostrate before you, to send your Spirit upon the offerings which are presented and to manifest to us that this bread is the holy body of our Lord Jesus Christ, this cup the blood of this sane Jesus Christ, our Lord, so that all who taste of it may obtain life and resurrection, the forgiveness of sins, healing of soul and body, the illumination of the Spirit and assurance before the awesome tribunal of your Christ. (Louis Bouyer, Eucharist: Theology and Spirituality of the Eucharistic Prayer [trans. Charles Underhill Quinn; Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1968], 284-85)

 

 

Once again we find ourselves here in the presence of archaic details. The terms “offering” and “sacrifice” each appear only once, the first in the epiclesis and the second at the beginning of the intercessions. The descent of the Spirit is asked, not as in St. James so that he will make the elements the body and blood of Christ, but, as in the Apostolic Constitutions, that he manifest that they are so, by producing in the participants all the effects of the mystery. (Ibid. 285-86)