The shape of the Eucharistic Prayer

5 The shape of the Eucharistic Prayer

Clearly the most significant texts within the Eucharist are the Eucharistic Prayers themselves. Until 1980 each eucharistic rite had only one Eucharistic Prayer; there was no element of choice. But from 1980 there was choice. In Rite A of ASB there were four prayers. In the main text of Common Worship Order One there are eight. This has introduced considerable textual variety. But except in two matters, one more significant than the other, there has been no equivalent variety of shape. So it is helpful at this early point in our book to indicate that shape and then, to a great extent, to take it for granted in the ten chapters that look at the texts of the prayers. It may also be helpful to introduce at this point just a few fairly technical liturgical words relating to Eucharistic Prayers and then to be able to use them without explanation at later points in the book…