Bishop's Note: Eucharist

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, 

I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! Today we are continuing our examination of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer’s Pastoral Rites section. Last week, as we examined the Burial of the Dead we looked at the Prayers of the People, today we look at the Eucharist.

This is one of the things that’s optional during the burial. Many burials these days don’t have the Eucharist, but having the Eucharist in a burial is a powerful support and reminder of God’s presence. Dom Gregory Dix speaking about the Eucharist said,

Was ever another command so obeyed? For century after century, spreading slowly to every continent and country and among every race on earth, this action has been done, in every conceivable human circumstance, for every conceivable human need from infancy and before it to extreme old age and after it, from the pinnacle of earthly greatness to the refuge of fugitives in the caves and dens of the earth.

He then goes on to list all of the situations that the Eucharist has been there for, coronations of kings, little country churches, etc. His whole point is that in situations of need throughout its history, the church has turned to the Eucharist. That’s not just because it’s a beautiful ceremony, but because it’s in that sacrament that we have communion with God, and through him the others in the body of Christ. Nothing in a Christian burial shows us the hope we have as Christians, gives us the strength and grace we need, or reminds us that we’re not alone, like the Eucharist.

AT THE EUCHARIST

The liturgy continues with the Peace and the Offertory. An offertory hymn or anthem may be sung.

The Proper Preface of Burial is used (page 156).

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

The following Post Communion Prayer is used

Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have fed us with the spiritual food and drink of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this Sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all your saints; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.