Eucharistic Prayers not contained in the Sacramentary

[hamburglar]

We had a visiting priest, and for the Eucharistic Prayer, he decided to use some book called “Eucharistic Prayers for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions.” I was somewhat alarmed by this. I got a chance to quickly flip through it. It appeared that it had some sort of approval from some Cardinals and Bishops. I know that praise from a Cardinal is by no means approval to use the texts in the Mass.

What I gathered was this: These Eucharistic Prayers were allowed during a period of time when the translations of the 4 Eucharistic Prayers were not finalized.

Could this be the case?

 

[benedictgal]

We had a visiting priest, and for the Eucharistic Prayer, he decided to use some book called “Eucharistic Prayers for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions.” I was somewhat alarmed by this. I got a chance to quickly flip through it. It appeared that it had some sort of approval from some Cardinals and Bishops. I know that praise from a Cardinal is by no means approval to use the texts in the Mass.

What I gathered was this: These Eucharistic Prayers were allowed during a period of time when the translations of the 4 Eucharistic Prayers were not finalized.

Could this be the case?

There were about two or three, if memory serves, that are commonly known as the Swiss Canons. Each of these Eucharistic Prayers is derived from the Emmaus encounter that the disciples had with Jesus. They were written for the Swiss and then somehow wound up in Spanish (the Spanish versions are a lot nicer and flow better) and then, some time later, I think ICEL picked them up. Remember, too, that there are also two more EPs for Reconciliation and the ones for Children. The children’s versions are probably going to be pulled for either deletion or further review.

When the English version of the Swiss Canons came out, I gave them to my rector and he wasn’t impressed. The memorial included some invocation for the Church to read the signs of the times. It was a little strange and he declined using them. However, in my former parish in Austin, the priests were using them even before approval had been given to allow them to be used.

 

[FrDavid96]

At one point, those prayers were approved for the US–that part I can say with certainty. As far as I know, they still are approved, but I have this vague memory that approval was given for only a period of time (maybe 2 or 3 years from the publication date or something like that). Please note, my memory is vague on this. If they were given temporary approval, the first few pages of the book would clearly say that–if there’s nothing there then I think it’s safe to say that are still kosher. I checked the USCCB website, and the most recent reference to it was 2004.

I tried one once. Once is the operative word. That’s why I can’t give you more up-to-date information.

 

[Joannm]

At one point, those prayers were approved for the US–that part I can say with certainty. As far as I know, they still are approved, but I have this vague memory that approval was given for only a period of time (maybe 2 or 3 years from the publication date or something like that). Please note, my memory is vague on this. If they were given temporary approval, the first few pages of the book would clearly say that–if there’s nothing there then I think it’s safe to say that are still kosher. I checked the USCCB website, and the most recent reference to it was 2004.

I tried one once. Once is the operative word. That’s why I can’t give you more up-to-date information.

Yes they are still allowed. There are a total of about 13 EPs that are approved for use in the Church in the United States.