Inaudible Prayers
by Paul Turner

Several times during Mass, the priest or deacon says a prayer that no one else hears. To some it seems rude: If they're going to say something, they should say it out loud. To others it seems wasteful: The prayers are beautiful; why not let everyone hear them? To still others it just seems odd: What are they doing up there anyway?

The Mass originated as a public prayer, a dialogue with God by the ministers and the assembly. As fewer people understood Latin, the participation of the people diminished. These inaudible prayers entered the texts of the Mass when the priest was whispering most of them anyway. When the Second Vatican Council restored the vocal role of the assembly, a few prayers remained to be said quietly by the priest or deacon. They express the devotions these ministers should carry during the service. They guide the ministers to constant attention to their prayer, and they model a prayerful attitude for us all.

Several inaudible prayers appear during the preparation of the altar and the gifts. When mixing the water and the wine, the priest or deacon says, "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 then quotes from a little-used portion of the Book of Daniel, a prayer delivered by Azariah in the fiery furnace: "Lord God, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts." As he washes his hands, he quotes Psalm 51: "Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sins."

Other occasions also call for quiet prayers: before the Gospel, before the priests communion, and while cleansing the vessels afterward. Even the acclamation, Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation and its affirmation by the people, "Blessed be God forever" may be recited inaudibly. Although these prayers largely go unnoticed, they detail the care that ministers should bring to their celebration of the Mass.

Copyright © 1997, Resource Publications, Inc. 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. This article may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.  For permission e-mail info@rpinet.com.
Paul Turner, pastor of St. Munchin Parish in Cameron, MO, holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome.