28 June 2009

On the Common Prefaces

LSB offers three of them. During the Trinity (Post-Pentecost) season, any of them may be used. The first is familiar from LW/LBW: "who on this day overcame death and the grave..." The second is probably my favorite, built out of phrases from the classic eucharistic prayer of St. Hippolytus (in the Novus Ordo Roman Rite, Eucharistic Prayer No.2 - note the phrases "created all things...born of the virgin Mary...to put an end to death... fulfilling Your will and gaining for You a holy people"). The third is largely a paraphrase of Philippians 2. Especially if you are using DS 3 which is rather shy on actual "giving thanks" the second and third options strike me as particularly fitting to use in the Green season.

3 comments:

Rev. Luke T. Zimmerman said...

Pr. Weedon:

I think the topic was covered before (last year), but was there intent by the COW to have any sort of connection between the Gospel Reading themes and the Common Prefaces?

Using the LSB 3-Year Series, the 1st Common Preface including the reference to Christ's overcoming death fit very well with the Raising of Jairus' Daughter from Mark 5. The 3rd Common Preface would connect well with "Saints Tide" (All Saints Day through Last Sunday/Christ the King).
But other times, there doesn't seem to be any sort of connection, intentional or unintentional.

Perhaps you might have some insight, including from the perspective of using 1-Year Series.

LTZ

Papa Olson said...

Thanks for this...do you know of any resources on the topic of the Common Prefaces so I can learn their history?

Pax

William Weedon said...

Luke,

My understanding is that on any Sunday when the preface is designated in the Altar Book as "common" the pastor may choose between the three provided. I agree that the way the propers shape up on some of these Sundays suggest that one preface is preferable to another. Yet, I note that the victory over death is also a major theme of the 2nd common preface and it might work well on the raising of Jairus' daughter etc.

Jon,

I suspect that whenever Dr. Grime finishes that Desk Edition for the Liturgy it will have what we're all looking for!