Anaphora (liturgy) - The Anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer of The Roman Rite

The Anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer of The Roman Rite

When referring to the Western uses, the term "Eucharistic Prayer" is more used than "anaphora", and sometime it refers only to the portion of the anaphora starting after the Sanctus because the Preface in the Latin rites is variable and follows the liturgical year.

Before the reform of the Catholic Mass (liturgy) undertaken in 1969 (see Mass of Paul VI) the only anaphora used in the Roman Rite was the Roman Canon (or Canon of the Mass). For the history of the "Roman Canon" see also articles Canon of the Mass, Pre-Tridentine Mass and Tridentine Mass.

With introduction in 1969 of the Mass of Paul VI, it was allowed to have multiple choices of Eucharistic Prayer, however the authorization of new Eucharistic Prayers is reserved to the Holy See. All the new Eucharistic Prayers follow the Antiochene structure with the noticeable difference that the Epiclesis is placed, according to the uses of the Roman tradition, before the Words of Institution and not after. The first approved Eucharistic Prayers are four:

• Eucharistic Prayer n. 1: it is the ancient Roman Canon with minimal variations. This ancient text is especially appropriate for Sundays, unless for pastoral considerations Eucharistic Prayer III is preferred.
• Eucharistic Prayer n. 2: it is based on the ancient Anaphora of the Apostolic Tradition with some adaptations to bring it in line with the other prayers. It is quite short, so it is appropriate for weekday use. It has its own Preface, based on the Anaphora of the Apostolic Tradition, but it can be substituted by the proper Preface of the Mass of the day;
• Eucharistic Prayer n. 3: it is a new composition that uses the Antiochene structure filled with Alexandrine and Roman themes. Its use is preferred on Sundays and feast days and it is to be used with the proper Preface of the day;
• Eucharistic Prayer n. 4: it is a new composition with a strong sacrificial wording and a fuller summary of Salvation history. It has its own Preface that cannot be substituted. It is based on Eastern anaphoras; especially that of St. Basil the Great.

In the years after the reform of Pope Paul VI other Eucharistic Prayers were authorized:

• four Eucharistic Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions proposed by the Swiss Synod (these are sometimes called the "Swiss Synod Eucharistic Prayers") were approved by the Holy See on August 8, 1974. These four prayers, built as a single prayer with four thematic variations, have been allowed to be used in France since 1978, in Italy since 1980, and the English version was approved in 1995.
• two Eucharistic Prayers for Masses of Reconciliation were approved provisionally (ad experimentum) in 1975;
• three Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children were also approved provisionally in 1975.