[Magdalen] Epiclesis.

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

Elsewhere there was a discussion with input from several conservative
Roman Catholics questioning the validity of the current RC Ordinary
Form Liturgy (the "Novus Ordo") which has been the norm since  Vatican-2.
These complaints always seem to center on "too much memorialism" and
not "enough Sacrifice".
 
I am amused by this attitude since there is a glaring absence of an  
epiclesis, in the Eucharistic Prayer ("Canon") where the Holy Spirit is invoked  to
validate the Sacrament and also to bless the faithful and ensure their 
full participation, in the old Latin Rite (the "Tridentine"/Extraordinary  
Form
of the RC Liturgy).
 
There are a couple of places in that Tridentine Liturgy where experts
say an epiclesis is "inferred" but not outright stated.  This is in  
contrast
to all the Eastern Rites that always contain an epiclesis.
 
So it seems Tridentines have little justification to point fingers at  the
current Novus Ordo Liturgy, in which a complete epiclesis has been
placed into all four Eucharistic Canons.
 
I'm not sure that ++Cranmer had a full epiclesis in the First and  Second
Prayer Books of Edward VI or that there was one in the later CofE 1662, 
so long the standard in so many Anglican jurisdictions.
 
However, there is an epiclesis, in all the Eucharistic Prayers of TEC  '79
Prayer Book.
 
Even the Lutherans have added an epiclesis to their bare "Verbum" of
the Eucharistic Prayer (ELCA).
 
 
David Strang.