XVIII

Eucharistic prayer continued:

After the proclamation of the faith the remainder of the prayer has three sections, which appear in all Eucharistic prayers but in differing order; a prayer for the Church, a prayer for unity with the saints, and a prayer for the dead.

During the Eucharistic prayer the whole church is remembered: the triumphant (those saints in heaven beginning with Bl.Virgin Mary and St.Joseph). We ask intercession from them saints, the apostles and patron of the day or the patron of the parish.  Then we pray for the militant church: the church here on earth, starting with pope, local bishop and clergy, people all over the world and particularly those present. Then the Church prays for those dead and particularly if the mass is said for any deceased person. The offering of the mass for the repose of the souls departed is believed to be very established practice since the early time. Peter says that Jesus went down to Sheol or hell and freed those who were detained there, Remember the word hell is not the hell we generally understand. It is the place all the dead go. It is not the place of torture.  

The Eucharistic prayer ends with the doxology: Through him, with him…etc.

It is a short hymn of praises to God the trinity.

These words at the same time encapsulate the prayer of the church: honor and glory to the triune God through, with, and in Christ. Although the words are directed to the Father, all glorification of the Father is at the same time glorification of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All praise of God is through, with, and in Christ.

Through him, because only through Christ does humanity have access to the Father and because his existence as God-man and his work of salvation are the fullest glorification of the Father; with him, because all authentic prayer is the fruit of union with Christ, and because in honoring the Son one honors the Father and vice versa; in him, because the praying church is Christ himself, with every individual praying member as a part of his Mystical Body, and because the Father is in the Son and the Son the reflection of the Father, who makes his majesty visible.

The dual meanings of through, with, and in clearly express the God-man’s mediation.

The prayer of the church is the prayer of the ever-living Christ. Its prototype is Christ’s prayer during his human life.