Epiclesis
Encyclopedia
The epiclesis is that part of the Anaphora
(Eucharistic Prayer) by which the priest
invokes the Holy Spirit
(or the power of His blessing) upon the Eucharistic bread and wine in some Christian church
es.
In most Eastern Christian
traditions, the Epiclesis comes after the Anamnesis
(remembrance of Jesus' words and deeds); in the Western Rite
it usually precedes.
are considered to be the moment of Transubstantiation
(when, according to religious tradition, the eucharistic elements would change from bread and wine into the actual Body and Blood of Christ
), the Eastern Orthodox Churches do not hold this belief. Instead, the Epiclesis is believed to be the moment at which this change is completed. However, the actual process of change is not considered to begin at this moment, but begins with the Liturgy of Preparation
--it is merely completed at the Epiclesis. This is illustrated in one of the opening prayers of the Preparatory Service used in the Liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
:
The Epiclesis is considered to be essential to the validity of the Sacred Mystery (sacrament), and in the 20th century, when Western Rite Orthodox
parishes began to be established, it was necessary to add an Epiclesis to their Eucharistic rites, if one was not already there (for instance, those parishes which desired to use the Anglican Missal
.)
, although they appear directly and indirectly in other parts of the rite (and is therefore considered to be implicit).
, the anaphora is as follows:
of Saint John Chrysostom an epiclesis is present (explicit); the priest says:
of Mass
, the prayer Quam oblationem of the Roman Canon represents an implicit epiclesis:
It is notable that the Roman Canon mentions the Holy Spirit explicitly only once, in the final doxology: "Through Him [Christ], with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is Yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever."
Beginning in about the thirteenth century, the Mass of the Roman Rite
also contained an offertory
prayer that invoked God as Sanctifier, and thus perhaps implicitly the Holy Spirit: "Come, Thou Sanctifier, almighty and eternal God, and bless + this sacrifice prepared for the glory of Thy holy Name." This prayer was not kept in the 1970 revision of the Roman Missal.
Despite the core of the Eucharistic Prayer, i.e. the point when the Transubstantiation is meant to occur according to the Council of Trent, coincides with the Words of Institution, the Catechism of the Catholic Church considers the Epiclesis to be a vital part of the Sacrament: "At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 1333). This statement clearly shows that the invocation of the Holy Spirit is essential to the Rite, and being the Roman Canon valid despite having no explicit epiclesis, the prayer Quam oblationem should be considered as a veritable implicit Epiclesis, a parallel to the explicit Epiclesis preceding the Words of Institution in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV of the 1969 Roman Missal.
, was of the opinion that the prayer Supplices te rogamus, placed, like the explicit epikleses in the Eastern Rites, after the anamnesis
and oblation
, is functionally equivalent:
Some Orthodox commentators object to the Roman Canon on the grounds that its epiklesis is too weak. When groups of Traditionalist Catholic
s have joined a canonical Orthodox jurisdiction with permission to celebrate the Tridentine Liturgy
, they have been required to interpolate the epiklesis from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom into the Tridentine Mass in order to correct this perceived defect (see Western Rite Orthodoxy
).
introduced into the Roman Rite in its post-1969
form. Each of them has a pre-consecration and a post-consecration epiclesis.
sacraments, such as matrimony, is also called an epiclesis. The Eastern Orthodox Church holds that such an epiclesis is necessary for the validity of the Holy Mystery (sacrament) of marriage; the Roman Catholic Church holds that it is not, since for them the bride and groom are the ministers of that sacrament.
An Epiclesis also appears in the Orthodox Rite of Baptism
and the Great Blessing of Waters.
(which is found in the Canadian Book of Alternative Service and several other Anglican liturgies) reads:
After the Words of Institution in the Lutheran Book of Worship
, for example, the epiclesis in Eucharistic Prayer III reads:
Lutheran and Anglican divines have also argued that in earlier liturgies of theirs in which an Epiclesis and unity with the one sacrifice of Christ may not have seemed explicit, it was stated as the point of the consecration in other parts of the rite, notably in required exhortations.
brings into effect a witnessing and preaching community in which there is apostolic teaching, fellowship, prayer and the breaking of the bread (Acts 2:42)." The epiclesis of the Methodist liturgy draws from both the Anglican tradition, such as the 1549 Prayer Book
, and the liturgical renewal movement of the 20th century that focused upon liturgies of the ancient church, such as the early rite of Hippolytus. From these traditions, John Wesley
, the founder of Methodism, inherited the notion that the Holy Spirit
was to be invoked to make real and true all that God had promised to bestow on the faithful through Holy Communion. This theology of epiclesis is evidenced in several Methodist hymns written by Charles Wesley
, the brother of John Wesley.
The epiclesis used in The United Methodist Church
is as follows:
The traditional rite of Holy Communion used before the publication of the 1989 hymnal did not include an explicit epiclesis. The traditional text, with slight revisions, is Word and Table IV, and it contains a 16 word, two line epiclesis, as follows:
Another epiclesis used in the Methodist Church in Great Britain
is as follows:
Anaphora (liturgy)
The Anaphora is the most solemn part of the Divine liturgy, Mass, or other Christian Communion rite where the offerings of bread and wine are consecrated as the body and blood of Christ. This is the usual name for this part of the Liturgy in Eastern Christianity, but it is more often called the...
(Eucharistic Prayer) by which the priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
invokes the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
(or the power of His blessing) upon the Eucharistic bread and wine in some Christian church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
es.
In most Eastern Christian
Eastern Christianity
Eastern Christianity comprises the Christian traditions and churches that developed in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Northeastern Africa, India and parts of the Far East over several centuries of religious antiquity. The term is generally used in Western Christianity to...
traditions, the Epiclesis comes after the Anamnesis
Anamnesis (Christianity)
Anamnesis , in Christianity is a liturgical statement in which the Church refers to the memorial character of the Eucharist and/or to the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ...
(remembrance of Jesus' words and deeds); in the Western Rite
Western Rite
Western Rite can refer to:*Latin liturgical rites, rites used by the Roman Catholic Church and other Western Christians deriving from Catholicism...
it usually precedes.
Eastern churches
While in the Roman Catholic Church, the Words of InstitutionWords of Institution
The Words of Institution are words echoing those of Jesus himself at his Last Supper that, when consecrating bread and wine, Christian Eucharistic liturgies include in a narrative of that event...
are considered to be the moment of Transubstantiation
Transubstantiation
In Roman Catholic theology, transubstantiation means the change, in the Eucharist, of the substance of wheat bread and grape wine into the substance of the Body and Blood, respectively, of Jesus, while all that is accessible to the senses remains as before.The Eastern Orthodox...
(when, according to religious tradition, the eucharistic elements would change from bread and wine into the actual Body and Blood of Christ
Real Presence
Real Presence is a term used in various Christian traditions to express belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was previously just bread and wine, and not merely present in symbol, a figure of speech , or by his power .Not all Christian traditions accept this dogma...
), the Eastern Orthodox Churches do not hold this belief. Instead, the Epiclesis is believed to be the moment at which this change is completed. However, the actual process of change is not considered to begin at this moment, but begins with the Liturgy of Preparation
Liturgy of Preparation
The Liturgy of Preparation, also Prothesis or Proskomedia , is the name given in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Byzantine-rite Eastern Catholic Churches to the act of preparing the bread and wine for the Eucharist...
--it is merely completed at the Epiclesis. This is illustrated in one of the opening prayers of the Preparatory Service used in the Liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is the predominant Oriental Orthodox Christian church in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Church was administratively part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, when it was granted its own Patriarch by Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All...
:
- How awful is this day and how marvellous this hour wherein the Holy Spirit will descend from heaven and overshadow and hallow this sacrifice.
The Epiclesis is considered to be essential to the validity of the Sacred Mystery (sacrament), and in the 20th century, when Western Rite Orthodox
Western Rite Orthodoxy
Western Rite Orthodoxy or Western Orthodoxy or Orthodox Western Rite are terms used to describe congregations and groups which are in communion with Eastern Orthodox Churches or Oriental Orthodox Churches using traditional Western liturgies rather than adopting Eastern liturgies such as the Divine...
parishes began to be established, it was necessary to add an Epiclesis to their Eucharistic rites, if one was not already there (for instance, those parishes which desired to use the Anglican Missal
Anglican Missal
The Anglican Missal is a liturgical book often used at Mass by Anglo-Catholics and other High Church Anglicans instead of the Book of Common Prayer.-History:...
.)
East Syrian
In its pure form, the ancient anaphora of the Divine Liturgy of Addai and Mari does include an epiclesis. It does not use the Words of InstitutionWords of Institution
The Words of Institution are words echoing those of Jesus himself at his Last Supper that, when consecrating bread and wine, Christian Eucharistic liturgies include in a narrative of that event...
, although they appear directly and indirectly in other parts of the rite (and is therefore considered to be implicit).
- Priest: We too, my Lord, your feeble, unworthy, and miserable servants who are gathered in your name and stand before you at this hour, and have received by tradition the example which is from you, while rejoicing, glorifying, exalting, and commemorating, perform this great, fearful, holy, life-giving, and divine Mystery of the passion, death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- And may there come, O my Lord, your Holy Spirit, and may he rest upon this oblation of your servants. May he bless it and hallow it, and may it be for us, O my Lord, for the pardon of debts, the forgiveness of sins, the great hope of resurrection from the dead, and for new life in the kingdom of heaven with all who have been well-pleasing before you. And for all this great and marvelous dispensation towards us we will give thanks to you and praise you without ceasing in your church, which is saved by the precious blood of your Christ.
Liturgy of St. James
In the Liturgy of Saint James, according to the form in which it is celebrated on the island of Zakinthos, GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, the anaphora is as follows:
- Priest (aloud): Thy people and Thy Church entreat Thee. (thrice)
- People: Have mercy on us, Lord God, the Father, the Almighty. (thrice)
- The Priest, in a low voice: Have mercy on us, Lord God, the Father, the Almighty. Have mercy on us, God our Saviour. Have mercy on us, O God, in accordance with Thy great mercy, and send forth upon these holy gifts, here set forth, Thine all-holy Spirit, (bowing) the Lord and giver of life, enthroned with Thee, God and Father, and Thine only-begotten Son, co-reigning, consubstantial and co-eternal, who spoke by the Law and the Prophets and by Thy New CovenantNew CovenantThe New Covenant is a concept originally derived from the Hebrew Bible. The term "New Covenant" is used in the Bible to refer to an epochal relationship of restoration and peace following a period of trial and judgment...
, who came down in the form of a dove upon our Lord Jesus Christ in the river Jordan, and rested upon him, who came down upon Thy holy Apostles in the form of fiery tongues in the upper room of holy and glorious Sion on the day of Pentecost. (Standing up) Thy same all-holy Spirit, Lord, send down on us and on these gifts here set forth,
- (aloud): that having come by his holy, good and glorious presence, He may sanctify this bread and make it the holy Body of ChristBody of ChristIn Christian theology, the term Body of Christ has two separate connotations: it may refer to Jesus's statement about the Eucharist at the Last Supper that "This is my body" in , or the explicit usage of the term by the Apostle Paul in to refer to the Christian Church.Although in general usage the...
,
- People: Amen.
- Priest: and this Cup (chaliceChalice (cup)A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for drinking during a ceremony.-Christian:...
) the precious Blood of ChristBlood of ChristThe Blood of Christ in Christian theology refers to the physical blood actually shed by Jesus Christ on the Cross, and the salvation which Christianity teaches was accomplished thereby; and the sacramental blood present in the Eucharist, which is considered by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and...
,
- People: Amen.
- The Priest signsSign of the crossThe Sign of the Cross , or crossing oneself, is a ritual hand motion made by members of many branches of Christianity, often accompanied by spoken or mental recitation of a trinitarian formula....
the holy Gifts and says in a low voice: that they may become for all those who partake of them for forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. For sanctification of souls and bodies. For a fruitful harvest of good works. For the strengthening of Thy holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which Thou didst found on the rock of the faith, so that the gates of Hell might not prevail against it, delivering it from every heresy and from the scandals caused by those who work iniquity, and from the enemies who arise and attack it, until the consummation of the age.
Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
In the Divine LiturgyDivine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the same term...
of Saint John Chrysostom an epiclesis is present (explicit); the priest says:
- Priest: Again we offer to Thee this noeticNousNous , also called intellect or intelligence, is a philosophical term for the faculty of the human mind which is described in classical philosophy as necessary for understanding what is true or real, very close in meaning to intuition...
and unbloody sacrifice; and we beg Thee, we ask Thee, we pray Thee: Send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon these Gifts set forth. - Priest: Make this bread the Precious Body of Thy Christ,|chalice]]]: Amen. Bless, Master, the Holy Cup.)
- Priest: And that which is in this Cup, the Precious Blood of Thy Christ,
- Priest: Changing by Thy Holy Spirit.
Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
In the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great according to the Greek recention of the prayers, the liturgical actions described above for the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysosom are the same. The formula is as follows:- Priest: Therefore, O Most-holy Master we sinners and Thine unworthy servants also, having been vouchsafed to minister at Thy holy Altar, not because of our righteousness, fot we have not done that which is good on the earth, but because of Thy mercies and Thy compassions, which Thou hast poured out richly upon us, dare to draw night unto Thy holy Altar; and having presented the sacred emblems of the Body and Blood of Thy Christ, we pray Thee, and we call upon Thee: O Holy of Holies, through the favour of Thy goodness send Thy Holy Spirit down upon us, and upon these Gifts presented here, and bless them, sanctify, and manifest them.
- Priest: And make this Bread itself the precious Body of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ,
- Priest: And that which is in this Cup, the precious Blood itself of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ,
- Deacon: Amen
- Priest: Which was shed for the life of the world,
- Priest: Changing by Thy Holy Spirit.
Implicit epiclesis
It is sometimes said that, in the Roman RiteRoman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
of Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
, the prayer Quam oblationem of the Roman Canon represents an implicit epiclesis:
- Bless and approve our offering;
- make it acceptable to you,
- an offering in spirit and in truth.
- Let it become for us
- the body and blood of Jesus Christ,
- your only Son, our Lord.
It is notable that the Roman Canon mentions the Holy Spirit explicitly only once, in the final doxology: "Through Him [Christ], with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is Yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever."
Beginning in about the thirteenth century, the Mass of the Roman Rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
also contained an offertory
Offertory
The Offertory is the portion of a Eucharistic service when bread and wine are brought to the altar. The offertory exists in many liturgical Christian denominations, though the Eucharistic theology varies among celebrations conducted by these denominations....
prayer that invoked God as Sanctifier, and thus perhaps implicitly the Holy Spirit: "Come, Thou Sanctifier, almighty and eternal God, and bless + this sacrifice prepared for the glory of Thy holy Name." This prayer was not kept in the 1970 revision of the Roman Missal.
Despite the core of the Eucharistic Prayer, i.e. the point when the Transubstantiation is meant to occur according to the Council of Trent, coincides with the Words of Institution, the Catechism of the Catholic Church considers the Epiclesis to be a vital part of the Sacrament: "At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 1333). This statement clearly shows that the invocation of the Holy Spirit is essential to the Rite, and being the Roman Canon valid despite having no explicit epiclesis, the prayer Quam oblationem should be considered as a veritable implicit Epiclesis, a parallel to the explicit Epiclesis preceding the Words of Institution in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV of the 1969 Roman Missal.
Eastern Orthodox views
However, at least one Eastern Orthodox liturgical commentator, Nicholas CabasilasNicholas Cabasilas
Nicholas Cabasilas was a Byzantine mystic and theological writer.Cabasilas is a saint within the Orthodox Church. His feast day is June 20.-Life:...
, was of the opinion that the prayer Supplices te rogamus, placed, like the explicit epikleses in the Eastern Rites, after the anamnesis
Anamnesis (Christianity)
Anamnesis , in Christianity is a liturgical statement in which the Church refers to the memorial character of the Eucharist and/or to the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ...
and oblation
Oblation
Oblation, an offering , a term, particularly in ecclesiastical usage, for a solemn offering or presentation to God.-Bible usage:...
, is functionally equivalent:
- Almighty God, we pray
- that your angel may take this sacrifice
- to your altar in heaven,
- then, as we receive from this altar
- the sacred body and blood of your Son,
- let us be filled with every grace and blessing.
Some Orthodox commentators object to the Roman Canon on the grounds that its epiklesis is too weak. When groups of Traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical forms, public and private devotions and presentations of Catholic teachings which prevailed in the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council...
s have joined a canonical Orthodox jurisdiction with permission to celebrate the Tridentine Liturgy
Tridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962. It was the most widely celebrated Mass liturgy in the world until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI in December 1969...
, they have been required to interpolate the epiklesis from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom into the Tridentine Mass in order to correct this perceived defect (see Western Rite Orthodoxy
Western Rite Orthodoxy
Western Rite Orthodoxy or Western Orthodoxy or Orthodox Western Rite are terms used to describe congregations and groups which are in communion with Eastern Orthodox Churches or Oriental Orthodox Churches using traditional Western liturgies rather than adopting Eastern liturgies such as the Divine...
).
Liturgical reform
No such difficulties arise with the additional Eucharistic PrayersAnaphora (liturgy)
The Anaphora is the most solemn part of the Divine liturgy, Mass, or other Christian Communion rite where the offerings of bread and wine are consecrated as the body and blood of Christ. This is the usual name for this part of the Liturgy in Eastern Christianity, but it is more often called the...
introduced into the Roman Rite in its post-1969
Mass of Paul VI
The Mass of Pope Paul VI is the liturgy of the Catholic Mass of the Roman Rite promulgated by Paul VI in 1969, after the Second Vatican Council...
form. Each of them has a pre-consecration and a post-consecration epiclesis.
Pre and post-consecration
- II: Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy,
- so that they may become for us
- the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
- III: And so, Father, we bring you these gifts.
- We ask you to make them holy by the power of your Spirit,
- that they may become the body and blood
- of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
- at whose command we celebrate this eucharist.
- IV: Father, may this Holy Spirit sanctify these offerings.
- Let them become the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord
- as we celebrate the great mystery
- which he left us as an everlasting covenant.
- II: May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ
- be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit.
- III: Look with favour on your Church's offering,
- and see the Victim whose death has reconciled us to yourself.
- Grant that we, who are nourished by his body and blood,
- may be filled with his Holy Spirit,
- and become one body, one spirit in Christ.
- IV: Lord, look upon this sacrifice which you have given to your Church;
- and by your Holy Spirit, gather all who share this one bread and one cup
- into the one body of Christ, a living sacrifice of praise.
Use in other sacraments
A similar invocation of the Holy Spirit by the priest in some other high churchHigh church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
sacraments, such as matrimony, is also called an epiclesis. The Eastern Orthodox Church holds that such an epiclesis is necessary for the validity of the Holy Mystery (sacrament) of marriage; the Roman Catholic Church holds that it is not, since for them the bride and groom are the ministers of that sacrament.
An Epiclesis also appears in the Orthodox Rite of Baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
and the Great Blessing of Waters.
Anglicanism and Lutheranism
Anglicans in the USA and American Lutheran Eucharistic prayers and newer Old Catholic anaphoras, tend to follow the perceived Eastern practice of treating the Words of Institution as a warrant for the action, with the Epiclesis following the anamnesis/oblation. For example, after the Words of Institution, the epiclesis in Eucharistic Prayer B in the American Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
(which is found in the Canadian Book of Alternative Service and several other Anglican liturgies) reads:
- "And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of All,
- presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
- We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts
- that they may be + the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant.
- Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him,
- being + sanctified by the Holy Spirit."
After the Words of Institution in the Lutheran Book of Worship
Lutheran Book of Worship
Lutheran Book of Worship is a worship book and hymnal used by several Lutheran denominations in North America. It is often referred to by its initials as the LBW, and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the LBW is sometimes called the "green book" as opposed to With One Voice, a...
, for example, the epiclesis in Eucharistic Prayer III reads:
- "And we implore you
- mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving
- and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,
- to bless us, your servants,
- and these your own gifts of bread and wine;
- that we and all who share in the + body and blood of your Son
- may be filled with Heavenly peace and joy
- and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,
- may be + sanctified in soul and body,
- and have our portion with all your saints."
Lutheran and Anglican divines have also argued that in earlier liturgies of theirs in which an Epiclesis and unity with the one sacrifice of Christ may not have seemed explicit, it was stated as the point of the consecration in other parts of the rite, notably in required exhortations.
Methodism
According to a 2003 report of the British Methodist Church, His Presence Makes The Feast: Holy Communion in the Methodist Church: "The one Spirit by whom we are all baptised into the one body (1 Corinthians 12:13) is the same Spirit who unites us in and with the body of Christ in Holy Communion. The Holy Spirit at work in the Church of the Acts of the ApostlesActs of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
brings into effect a witnessing and preaching community in which there is apostolic teaching, fellowship, prayer and the breaking of the bread (Acts 2:42)." The epiclesis of the Methodist liturgy draws from both the Anglican tradition, such as the 1549 Prayer Book
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, and the liturgical renewal movement of the 20th century that focused upon liturgies of the ancient church, such as the early rite of Hippolytus. From these traditions, John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
, the founder of Methodism, inherited the notion that the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
was to be invoked to make real and true all that God had promised to bestow on the faithful through Holy Communion. This theology of epiclesis is evidenced in several Methodist hymns written by Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
, the brother of John Wesley.
The epiclesis used in The United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
is as follows:
- "Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
- and on these gifts of bread and wine.
- Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
- that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
- redeemed by his blood.
- By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
- one with each other,..." (UMH; pages 10, 14).
The traditional rite of Holy Communion used before the publication of the 1989 hymnal did not include an explicit epiclesis. The traditional text, with slight revisions, is Word and Table IV, and it contains a 16 word, two line epiclesis, as follows:
- "bless and sanctify with thy Word and Holy Spirit
- these thy gifts of bread and wine" (UMH, page 29.)
Another epiclesis used in the Methodist Church in Great Britain
Methodist Church of Great Britain
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is the largest Wesleyan Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations across Great Britain . It is the United Kingdom's fourth largest Christian denomination, with around 300,000 members and 6,000 churches...
is as follows:
- "Send down your Holy Spirit
- that these gifts of bread and wine
- may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
- Unite us with him for ever
- and bring us with the whole creation
- to your eternal kingdom."
External links
- The Epiklesis (photo)