Changing the words of the consecration of the Eucharist

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a Mass locally with an unfamiliar priest. Anyway, the priest did not use the traditional words of consecration. He changed them. Is there more than one set of words for the consecration that a priest can use? If not, was the Eucharist he celebrated valid? I received the Eucharist that day though I did have reservations about it.

 

[benedictgal]

Hi everyone. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a Mass locally with an unfamiliar priest. Anyway, the priest did not use the traditional words of consecration. He changed them. Is there more than one set of words for the consecration that a priest can use? If not, was the Eucharist he celebrated valid? I received the Eucharist that day though I did have reservations about it.

Even though there are about 13 different Eucharistic Prayers approved for use, the words of institution (consecration) generally do not vary. This is how the first three EPs should read:

Take this, all of you, and eat it;
this is my body which will be given up for you.

When the supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it;
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

The only slight variance is Eucharistic Prayer IV which should read:

Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.

In the same way, he took the cup, filled with wine. He gave you thanks, and giving the cup to his disciples, said:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

As far as the EPs for Reconciliation, here is how the first one reads:

Take this, all of you, and eat it;
this is my body which will be given up for you.

At the end of the meal, knowing that he was to reconcile all things in himself by the blood of his cross, he took the cup filled with wine. Again he gave you thanks, handed the cup to his friends, and said:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it;
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

This is how the second one reads:

Take this, all of you, and eat it;
this is my body which will be given up for you.

At the end of the meal he took the cup. Again he praised you for your goodness, gave the cup to his disciples, and said:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it;
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

Now, these are the so-called “Swiss Canons”. This is how they read:

On the eve of his passion and death, while at table with those he loved, he took break and gave you thanks; he broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.

When supper was ended, he took the cup; again he gave you thanks and, handing the cup to his disciples, he said:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

As this post is rather lengthy, I’ll post two others in the next one.

 

[benedictgal]

Here is the first EP for children:

Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.

When supper was ended, Jesus took the cup that was filled with wine. He thanked you, gave it to his friends, and said:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Then he said to them: do this in memory of me.

Here is the second EP for children:

Take this, all of you, and eat it;
this is my body which will be given up for you.

All: Jesus has given his life for us.

Priest: When supper was ended, Jesus took the cup that was filled with wine. He thanked you, gave it to his friends, and said:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it;
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.

All: Jesus has given his life for us.

Priest: Then he said to them: do this in memory of me.

This second one is a little interesting. It’s almost like there is an interruption in the flow, but, that is just my opinion.

Here is the next one:

Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.

In the same way he took a cup of wine. He gave you thanks and handed the cup to his disciples, saying:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Then he said to them: do this in memory of me.

Now, these EPs have particular restrictions. This means that they should only be used when children comprise the majority of the faithful attending the Mass.

I hope this helps.

 

[benedictgal]

Regarding the Eucharistic Prayer, Redemptionis Sacramentum notes the following:

1. The Eucharistic Prayer
   [51.] Only those Eucharistic Prayers are to be used which are found in the Roman Missal or are legitimately approved by the Apostolic See, and according to the manner and the terms set forth by it. "It is not to be tolerated that some Priests take upon themselves the right to compose their own Eucharistic Prayers"129 or to change the same texts approved by the Church, or to introduce others composed by private individuals.130

Even though there are 13 different Eucharistic Prayers, the variances should not be so great that one cannot recognize what the celebrant is supposed to be praying.

 

[PacoG]

Benedictgal, it was an unnecessary exercise to quote every Eucharistic Prayer. It is clearly stated in The Apostolic Constitution: Promulgation of the Roman Missal Revised by Decree of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council as issued by Pope Paul VI on April 3, 1969:

Both for pastoral reasons, however, and for the facilitation of concelebration, we have ordered that the words of the Lord be identical in each form of the canon. Thus in each eucharistic prayer we wish those words to be as follows: over the bread: Accipite et manducate ex hoc omnes: Hoc est enim corpus meum, quod pro vobis tradetur; over the chalice: Accipite et bibite ex eo omnes: Hic est enim calix Sanguinis mei novi et aeterni testamenti qui pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum. Hoc facite in meam commemorationem. The words Mysterium fidei have been removed from the context of Christ’s own words and are spoken by the priest as an introduction to the faithful’s acclamation.

Before RS, Pope Paul decreed that the words of institution were to be the same no matter what.

 

[passus]

If not, was the Eucharist he celebrated valid? I received the Eucharist that day though I did have reservations about it.

While any changes to the words of institution are definitely grave matter and a liturgical abuse, for validity’s sake, as long as the priest expresses in some way, shape, or form that the paten and chalice contain the body and blood of Jesus, then you can be sure that the consecration has taken place.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

Did Jesus say the original words of consecration in Aramaic or Hebrew?

I’ve always wondered what the actual words in Aramaic or Hebrew are.

I’ve heard that one of the Rites does use the words in Aramaic. Is that correct?

Is the Mass celebrated anywhere in Hebrew?

 

[FrDavid96]

Did Jesus say the original words of consecration in Aramaic or Hebrew?

I’ve always wondered what the actual words in Aramaic or Hebrew are.

I’ve heard that one of the Rites does use the words in Aramaic. Is that correct?

Is the Mass celebrated anywhere in Hebrew?

Probably Syriac/Aramaic (which is so diverse it’s more of a family of languages than a single language). By the time of Christ, Hebrew was no longer a spoken language, but almost exclusively a liturgical one. Outside of the synagogue, He most likely spoke more Greek than Hebrew.

The Syriacs use some Aramaic, especially for the consecration, but it’s a later version than what Christ spoke.

If memory serves, the movie “The Passion of the Christ” uses Syriac/Aramaic for the Last Supper scene. Since you say that you wonder what it would sound like, I’d suggest watching (or re-watching) that scene.