Eucharistic Prayer II for the laity?

[pipoluojo]

The 4 Eucharistic Prayers contain specific supplication for the entire faithful - the Pope, the clergy and the lay faithful. Canon II which is the shortest and the most commonly used at Mass in my parish has no specific mention of the lay faithful after the Pope and the clergy. I sometimes feel excluded from the Eucharistic sacrifice by this omission. I’m told the other prayers are expressed in the name of the entire faithful. But that includes the entire clergy too. Why omit the laity in a prayer being offered by the clergy. Any authoritative explanation, please?

 

[Dr.Colossus]

Well, this isn’t an authoritative answer, but hopefully it will help. Here is the text of the second Eucharistic prayer:

Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love, together with [name] our Pope, [name] our bishop, and all the clergy.

Notice that the first sentence asks God to remember his Church, i.e., the entire Church, which must necessarily include the laity. Also, the next sentence clearly refers to the laity, as we are asking to grow in love “together with… the clergy”.

 

[pipoluojo]

Thanks, but if a priest prays “make **us ** grow in love, together…and the clergy” is the “us” not including the clergy? In another Canon the term “we” is further defined - your people (laity) and your ministers (the clergy). Those being prayed for is made clear in all the Canons.

 

[Dr.Colossus]

pipoluojo:

Thanks, but if a priest prays “make **us **grow in love, together…and the clergy” is the “us” not including the clergy? In another Canon the term “we” is further defined - your people (laity) and your ministers (the clergy). Those being prayed for is made clear in all the Canons.

True, the word “us” does not exclude the clergy, but refers to the entire Church. The clergy are mentioned by name, but it is clear that they are not the only ones included in the prayer. The others must be the laity.