Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

There is a saying in the Church: “Lex orandi, Lex credendi” Are you wondering what it means? Literally it translates “The Law of prayer is the Law of belief.” It really means how we pray expresses what we believe. If you want to know the faith of the Church, you could learn it by listening carefully to the prayers of the Church, at Mass and the other Sacraments. The Liturgy contains within it our faith!

My husband and I often watch the Mass on TV because of his health and on Ash Wednesday I was struck as I heard the Eucharistic Prayer. The priest was using the Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation I. It so beautifully expressed God’s love and desire to save us, I thought to myself what a great mediation that would make. And here it is!

We begin with the preface, which is like the announcement of what we are giving thanks to God for in the Liturgy. “It is truly right and just that we should always give You thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For You do not cease to spur us on to possess a more abundant life and, being rich in mercy, you constantly offer pardon and call on sinners to trust in your forgiveness alone.” God is involved in our lives, always prodding us to become our best selves, pouring out His mercy and forgiveness on sinners to change our hearts.

“Never did You turn away from us, and, though time and again we have broken your covenant, You have bound the human family to Yourself through Jesus your Son, our Redeemer, with a new bond of love so tight that it can never be undone.” Because Jesus has become one of us, God holds us all close and even when we turn from God and break our promises, He never lets us go! As St. Paul said, "Nothing can separate us from the Love of God... Roman 8:39."

“Even now You set before Your people a time of grace and reconciliation, (Lent) and, as they turn back to You in spirit, You grant them hope in Christ Jesus and a desire to be of service to all, while they entrust themselves more fully to the Holy Spirit. And so, filled with wonder, we extol the power of Your love, and, proclaiming our joy at the salvation that comes from You, we join in the heavenly hymn of countless hosts, as without end we acclaim:” We have reason to rejoice and sing out that "Hosanna in the highest" because God’s grace to change is always ours.

After the "Holy, Holy" the prayer goes on: “You are indeed Holy, O Lord, and from the world’s beginning are ceaselessly at work, so that the human race may become holy, just as You Yourself are holy.” Do we think of God as ceaselessly at work forming and reforming us into His children?

As the priest extends his hands over the Host and chalice he prays; “Look, we pray, upon Your people’s offerings and pour out on them the power of Your Spirit, that they may become the Body and + Blood of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in whom we, too, are Your sons and daughters.” The Spirit transforms into the Body and Blood of Jesus the gifts we offer to Him on the paten (gold dish that holds the Host) or in that chalice. If we offer ourselves, then, we too are transformed truly into the Body of Christ.

‘"ndeed, though we once were lost and could not approach You, You loved us with the greatest love: for Your Son, who alone is just, handed himself over to death, and did not disdain to be nailed for our sake to the wood of the Cross.” Do you really believe that God loves you personally to this extent, that He died for you, and would have even if you were the only one who needed to be saved????

Then follows the Words that Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, the Jewish Passover, the Words that transform the bread and wine into His Body and Blood. In Words Jesus sacrificed Himself before he did it on the Cross, the same sacrifice. “Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of Your Son Jesus Christ, who is our Passover and our surest peace, we celebrate His Death and Resurrection from the dead, and looking forward to His blessed Coming, we offer You, who are our faithful and merciful God, this sacrificial Victim who reconciles to You the human race." In the Mass we are remembering and offering to the Father, Jesus’ sacrifice - His love - on the Cross, through which He saved us and brought us home to the Father like the Prodigal Son. We offer this sacrifice not just for ourselves but in the name of all humankind.

“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.” Each time we receive Holy Communion we proclaim that we are part of the Church, the Body of Christ. St. Augustine said, “Body of Christ, receive the Body of Christ that you may be the Body of Christ.”

“Help us to work together for the coming of Your Kingdom, until the hour when we stand before You, Saints among the Saints in the halls of heaven, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the blessed Apostles and all the Saints, and with our deceased brothers and sisters, whom we humbly commend to Your mercy. Then, freed at last from the wound of corruption and made fully into a new creation, we shall sing to You with gladness the thanksgiving of Christ, who lives for all eternity.” This reminds us of the Church’s mission and our main task inlife, to work for the coming of God’s Kingdom. It also tells us we are not alone in offering God worship at Mass, we are part of the Communion of Saints. That includes not just a St. Francis or a St. Therese but all those who already enjoy God’s Presence who may be some of our own relatives, saints with a small “s.” When our pastor preaches at a funeral he says that "this is like one long table that extends into eternity. We are sitting at one end and are loved ones who have died are sitting at the other with God."

Next time you are at Mass, listen carefully to all the prayers to learn your faith more deeply, to learn the depths of God's passionate Love for us!!