“Numerous saints have plumbed the depths of the Eucharist and only begun to appreciate just how profound and glorious this gift is for us,” said Father Tom Margevicius, director of worship for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “I think the way that the Mass is currently set up is a perfect example of some of the depths that are often underappreciated about the Eucharist.”
Father Margevicius made the remarks recently to “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley for an episode of his “Mass Class” series, this time providing insight on preparation of the gifts and the eucharistic prayer at Mass.
Father Tom Margevicius
The word “liturgy” is a Greek term meaning “people work,” Father Margevicius said. The word predated Christianity. It was used in ancient Greece for anyone who did a public service on behalf of the people, including men who traversed Athens at sunset, lighting all the oil lamps so people could walk in the streets. He was called a liturgist.
The man leading public worship in temples was also called the liturgist, Father Margevicius said, as he was leading worship on behalf of the assembly. The early Church believed the word was proper, Father Margevicius said, because what happens during the liturgy is a corporate activity, not simply private individuals gathered in the same place and time.
All prayers prayed out loud to God at Mass are worded in the first person plural, Father Margevicius said. Even the Eucharistic prayer: “We come to you, Father, with praise and thanksgiving with Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“It’s not only his private prayer,” Father Margevicius said of the priest. “It’s all of our prayer. And that’s important, also, in the preparations of the gifts, when bread and wine come forward, and the rubrics of the missal encourage that, by saying it’s a praiseworthy thing.”
Documents make it clear that it’s better for people to receive hosts consecrated at “this Mass” instead of going to the tabernacle for those previously consecrated, Father Margevicius said, because the faithful are participating in the eucharistic prayer in virtue of joining themselves to Christ … “so that what is being offered is their offering, and they receive that offering back from Christ himself,” Father Margevicius said. That kind of communal activity shows up many times in the Eucharist, he said.
Wine requires grapes that are crushed and fermented to make one product, but with the work of human hands. “It’s you and me on the altar,” Father Margevicius said. “It’s our very substance that we place on the altar with Christ. We even use that in common language.”
To hear the full interview, tune in to the 9 p.m. Sept. 9 “Practicing Catholic” show, which repeats at 1 p.m. Sept. 10 and 2 p.m. Sept. 11 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
The next installment of Mass Class will address the Communion rite. “It’s one thing to say Jesus’ body and blood become really present here on the altar, but it begs the question of ‘why,’” Father Margevicius said. “We don’t do consecration of the species just to adore, but also to receive, which is the high point of our communion with Christ.”
To submit questions for Father Margevicius to address during an upcoming Mass Class, either leave a short message with your name and home parish at 651-291-7737 or send the information by email to [email protected].
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Father Paul Hedman, parochial vicar of St. Peter in Forest Lake, who describes balancing the roles of priest and teacher; and Mark McInroy, associate professor of theology and associate chair of the Theology Department at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, who describes the theology of beauty.
Listen to interviews after they have aired:
Practicing Catholic on Spotify
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