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| Ministry Title |
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Spirituality through the Liturgical Seasons |
| Article Title |
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(51) Eucharistic Prayer (IV): Invocation of the Holy Spirit (Epiclesis) |
| Publish Date |
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13-Nov-2017 |
| Author |
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The Steering Committee of the HKSKH Church Policy Paper - The Working Group for Discipleship Training |
Invocation of the Holy Spirit, ‘epiclesis’ in Greek, is an inevitable part of the Eucharistic Prayers in the Anglican prayer books. For example in Eucharistic Prayer (B), ‘We pray you to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts (bread and wine)...’ The invocation is originated from Eastern Church traditions, for which the Epiclesis marks the most sacred and most solemn moment, even more important than the Words of Institution (also called the Words of Consecration) by Jesus Christ. The solemnity is evident in the Ministry of the Sacrament of Orthodox Church. The Celebrant would lead the congregation to wait faithfully for the descent of the Holy Spirit through a period of complete silence after the Epiclesis. However, due to various doctrinal discussions over Holy Communion, it was not until the 20th century that the Western Church included the Epiclesis into her rite, into her Eucharistic Prayers.
We are familiar with the invocation of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharistic Prayers. Calling upon the Holy Spirit and remembering the salvation God brought through Jesus Christ are intertwined in our liturgy, allowing our prayer to transcend beyond time and space. In the beginning part of the Great Thanksgiving, we focus on the past: we remember God's greatness and His works throughout history, give thanks to God for sending His one and only son, the Word made flesh, to be the saviour and redeemer of the world; and for that praise God with singing of the Sanctus. We then, by the invocation of the Holy Spirit, focus on the present ─ call upon the Holy Spirit to descend on the bread and wine, and our midst here and now ─ so that we may, upon receiving the grace and strength from above through the Holy Communion, continue our way on earth for God. In remembering God's work and calling upon the Holy Spirit, we understand that the Eucharistic Prayer is a complete prayer. It brings us back to the past, concentrates on the present and moves us to the future, allowing us to encounter God through and across time and space.
Meditation
- During the Epiclesis, what emotions do you feel as you wait for and receive the Holy Spirit?
- How does the Eucharistic Prayer lead us in gaining strength for our busy lives?