After the explicit offering of the One Sacrifice of Christ in the Mass, there follows in all the Eucharistic Prayers a petition that the Holy Spirit make all participants one in Christ and his Body the Church; however in the Roman Canon, i.e., Eucharistic I, this is implicit.
Here are some examples of this prayer for Unity in the Body of Christ:
Eucharistic Prayer II
"Humbly we pray
that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit."
Eucharistic Prayer III
"Grant that we,
who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son
and filled with his Holy Spirit,
may become one body, one spirit in Christ."
Eucharistic Prayer IV
"Look, O Lord, upon the Sacrifice
which you yourself have provided for your Church,
and grant in your loving kindness
to all who partake of this one Bread and one Chalice
that, gathered into one body by the Holy Spirit,
they may truly become a living sacrifice in Christ
to the praise of your glory."
Here is the Prayer for Unity in Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation I which we use for Lent and the Easter Season at Holy Faith:
"Look kindly, most compassionate Father,
on those you unite to yourself
by the Sacrifice of your Son,
and grant that, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
as they partake of this one Bread and one Chalice,
they may be gathered into one Body in Christ,
who heals every division."
The first thing that we notice about these prayers and those in other Eucharistic Prayers like them, is that the unity that the prayer is referring to comes from partaking of Holy Communion, so the prayer is anticipating that moment in the Mass.
However, one can also see that the purpose of this Communion is that we can be the One Body of Christ, the Church (also referred to as the "Mystical Body of Christ"). I will have more to say about this when we come to the reflection upon Holy Communion.
The Eucharist brings about the unity of the Church and it also expresses the unity of the Church.
Revered theologian Henri de Lubac gave us the the saying, "The Eucharist makes the Church, and [in turn] the Church makes the Eucharist." Essential to the Church is her unity. "I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church" (from the Nicene Creed). In addition, it is the Holy Spirit who brings about this unity:
"The Church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the soul, as it were, of the Mystical Body, the source of its life, of its unity in diversity, and of the riches of its gifts and charisms." (Catechism #809)
Before his death on the Cross, Jesus prayed for his disciples, for the Church: "that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:21)
We can also recall what was written earlier about Covenant (see HERE). The "Classical Covenant Formula" is when God chooses a people and says "I will be your God and you will be my People." This involves a People united in the worship of the One God and who live in justice and peace with one another. (See for example Micah 6:8 HERE)
The same call to worship God and to serve others expressed as love is central in the teaching of Jesus: love God with everything we are and love neighbor as ourselves (See Mark 12:29-34 HERE)
A final word about this unity expressed and brought about in the Eucharist through Christ and the Spirit: this is a unity in diversity, not an artificial uniformity in all things. As Pope Francis noted:
"The Spirit builds ‘the unity of the Church’ in the ‘diversity of nations, cultures, and people.’" (Papal Mass on 10-24-2014)
At the same time we have a "common core" (if I may use this term) of unity in the teaching of the Catholic Church, in the liturgical worship, and in communion with the Pope and Bishops of the Church. It is a unity that comes from union with Christ though the Holy Spirit, which is with God the Father. This union is supernaturally fostered in the Eucharist.
Next Week: The Intercessions of the Eucharistic Prayer
