Eucharistic Prayer III
by Paul Turner

For many centuries, the Roman church used only one such prayer, which we now call Eucharistic Prayer I. Immediately after the Second Vatican Council, we added three more prayers to the repertoire. More have followed since. Of those first three new prayers, II and IV were based on texts from the first few centuries after Christ. However, Eucharistic Prayer III was a new composition based on the old forms.

Eucharistic Prayer III has no preface of its own between the opening dialogue and the Holy. More than 80 different prefaces may be used to open the prayer. After the Holy is sung, Prayer III starts with the words, “Lord you are holy indeed, and all creation rightly gives you praise.” The entire opening of the prayer — the preface, the Holy and these first lines — all give praise to God.

The rest of the prayer follows a traditional outline. We pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the bread and wine. We remember the mighty deeds of God, especially the events of the last supper. We sing the mystery of our faith. We offer our gift to God. We pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit over the assembly. We pray intercessions for the church’s ministers, for the living and the dead. We conclude the prayer with a doxology and Amen.

We often use Eucharistic Prayer III on Sundays and on feasts, especially because the interchangeable prefaces can identify the significance of the day of celebration.

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Paul Turner, pastor of St. Munchin Parish in Cameron, MO, holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome.