Message from the Bishop on the Mass (3/4): Last week we saw that the Liturgy of the Eucharist repeats in a ritual or ceremonial way the four actions of Jesus in the Last Supper – he took, blessed, broke and shared.

At the heart of the Mass, we repeat the second action of Jesus at the Last Supper – he BLESSED. This part is called the Eucharistic Prayer and it is a solemn prayer of blessing and thanksgiving. For the first part, called the Preface, we stand. Then the priest calls down the Holy Spirit on the bread and wine and recalls again the story of the Last Supper in the part called the Consecration. This is the moment when we believe that Christ the Risen Lord becomes truly present under the appearance of bread/wine. The priest then offers Christ to his Father and prays for the living and the dead. At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, the people answer AMEN.