FATHER MICHAEL’S DIARY
10 MAY 2024
MANUAL ACTS
As you must have noticed when I preside at the Eucharist the recitation of the Eucharistic prayer is accompanied by various gestures. Used by many, but not all, priests these are known as the manual acts and they serve two purposes: first they compliment the spoken words of the prayer and secondly, because of their antiquity they symbolise the continuity between what we are doing today and what they church has always done during its 2000 year history. This is particularly the case following the revision of our liturgy towards the end of the last century culminating in Common Worship which has restored to us the ancient pattern of the western Eucharist.
The second innovation has been the change for the President to stand in the westward position, facing the people across the altar rather than facing east with their back to them. This gave the manual acts a renewed significance. Before the change they had become secretive and fussy something which occurred between the president and God. Now everyone can see them and they have become an additional means for the people to participate in the Eucharist, by watching what the president does.
The participation of the people is a vital part of the celebration of the Eucharist. Another significant change has been the change in the title of the person leading the service from “celebrant” to “president”. This recognises that the Eucharist is essentially a communal act; the act of the gathered people of God.
From the start of the Eucharistic prayer the president holds his or her hands high. This is known as the orans position. In the Lullingstone roman villa there is a prayer room dating back to the 4th century the walls of which are decorated with figures in this position. At the invocation of the Holy Spirit (the epilclesis) the president extende their hands joined palms down of the bread and wine and at end makes the sign of the cross over them. After the institution narrative the president then lifts up the consecrated bread, the purpose of this is to show the people the consecrated host; in response the people make the sign of the cross, recognising that the host is now the Body of the Risen Christ, the president then genuflects (kneels on one knee) also in recognition. A similar procedure follows with cup of wine.
Ar the end of the Eucharistic prayer the president elevates the bread and the wine holding the two vessels in either hand. This is the moment when Christ’s victory over sin and death is once again offered to God the Father. After venerating the Blessèd Sacrament the President introduces the Lord’s Prayer. This is the prayer of the whole Church and the people as well as the president should adopt the orans position while reciting it. The president then breaks the consecrated Host and places a small fragment of it in the chalice. This is another very ancient ceremony and represents the Resurrection. The president and people then recite “O Lamb of God” together. After this the Holy Communion is administered first to the President and assistant ministers and then to the people.
Observing and understanding the significance of the manual acts is the essential part the people play in the celebration of the Eucharist. The celebration of the Eucharist is the joint action of the president and people and both are essential to it. If there is more than one priest present the clergy may concelebrate (one priest presides while the others join in the Eucharistic prayer and make the manual acts). I hope this explanation will help you to participate more fully in the Eucharist at St John’s. If you have any questions or would like further explanation please do speak to me.
READINGS AND PRAYERS
12 MAY – SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – John 17.6-19 – the high priestly prayer – for the gift of the Holy Spirit
13 MAY – Monday – Acts 19.1-8 – the Holy Spirit came upon them – that the Holy Spirit may fill the Church
14 MAY – MATTHIAS THE APOSTLE – Acts 1. 15- end – the election of Matthias – Christopher, our Bishop and Rosemarie, Bishop of Croydon
15 MAY – Wednesday – John 17.11-19 – they also may be sanctified in truth – that the Holy Spirit may lead us into all truth
16 MAY – Thursday – Acts 22. 30, 23.6-11 – you must bear witness also in Rome – the evangelistic work of the Church
17 MAY – Friday – John 21.15-19 – After this he said to him ‘follow me’. – that we may be steadfast in our discipleship
18 MAY – Saturday – Acts 28,16-20, 30-end - Paul in Rome – all immigrants and asylum seekers