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| The Last Supper, Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret, 1896 |
From the Book of Common Prayer, here is the Eucharistic prayer said at most celebrations of Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church, recalling the great sacrifice Christ made of himself, and the institution of the Sacrament to nourish and remind us believers week by week, year by year, in all times and places, of God's immeasurable love for all mankind (emphasis mine):
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us
for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become
subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus
Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human
nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the
God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself,
in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole
world.
At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it,
or to lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or
place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be
consecrated.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our
Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks
to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take,
eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the
remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Maundy service broadcast live from the Washington National Cathedral tonight. I find the stripping of the altar after Communion profoundly poignant:
In Memoriam: the victims of the senseless, disgusting shooting at Florida State University today.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
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