Origins of the Preface

[gwyn]

Good evening brethren and sistren,
I wonder can anyone throw a little light on the origin and history of The Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer?
To my shame I so often take the Preface for granted, often listening out for crucial cue-words such as "May our voices be one with them . . . "
Thanks,
Gwyn.

[Southern Comfort]

Good evening brethren and sistren,
I wonder can anyone throw a little light on the origin and history of The Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer?
To my shame I so often take the Preface for granted, often listening out for crucial cue-words such as "May our voices be one with them . . . "
Thanks,
Gwyn.

You could start here: https://www.homeofthemother.org/en/reso ... 85-preface

and here: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12384a.htm

[John Ainslie]

There's plenty of meat in the hyperlinks provided by Southern Comfort.

Why "preface"? It sounds like just a preamble to the main Prayer after the Sanctus. It isn't. It's an integral part of the Eucharistic Prayer. The main verb of the first sentence is 'give you thanks', i.e. make Eucharist.

The name 'preface' comes from Latin 'praefatio', which means doing something along with or in front of others - which is what liturgy is about.

[gwyn]

Thanks S.C., thanks John.
Very useful indeed.
Gwyn.