At this time, we give thanks for the bread soon to be made Body of Christ. The priest raises the ciborium containing the bread and says: “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.” To which we respond, “Blessed be God forever.” (If there is a song during this action, the priest says this prayer in an inaudible voice.)
We now give thanks for the wine soon to be made Blood of Christ. Water is poured into the wine with the priest saying, “by the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. The priest pours some of the wine into his chalice and holding it above the altar he says, “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.” To which we respond, “Blessed be God forever.” (Once again if there is music the priest’s prayer would be inaudible.) This mixing of water and wine started in the time of the early church. The wine was transported in condensed form and to drink wine that was not diluted was socially unacceptable. Later in the life of the Church the custom of mixing the water with wine continued with the addition of the prayer we use today.
The washing of hands by the priest is called the purification rite. The tradition of the presider washing his hands after receiving the gifts started with the early Church. Many people would bring all sorts of “stuff” to the worship service. Things like clothes and animals would be brought to the presider for distribution to the community. So therefore, it was imperative that the presider, wash his hands prior to serving the assembled faithful. Today we keep the tradition of the washing of hands, to symbolize the priests desire to be cleansed within. The priest says inaudibly, “Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.”
The priest now voices the prayer over the gifts. There is a prescribed prayer for each Sunday of the year as well as for each daily liturgy of the Eucharist. In this prayer, the focus is that of our willingness to sacrifice for each other as well as acknowledging the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Now we are prepared to offer our great prayer of thanksgiving, the Eucharistic Prayer.