The Structure Of Table Worship In The Early Church

The oldest prayer of Thanksgiving is found in Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition, dated about a. d. 215. Because Hippolytus remembered this prayer from his youth, it is generally thought the prayer reaches back to 150. Through this prayer we can see the developed parts of the ancient eucharistic prayer. Consequently, this prayer has served as a model for the contemporary restructuring of the prayers said at the Table. The Text of Hippolytus ORDER TEXT COMMENTARY Dominus vobiscum The Lord be with you And all shall say: And with your spirit. Sursum Corda (Lift up your hearts) Worship ascends into heaven Lift up your hearts. We have them with the Lord around the throne of God. Let us give thanks to the Lord. It is fitting and right. Preface Prayer We render thanks to you The preface to the prayer of O God, through your beloved thanksgiving is a proclamation. child Jesus Christ, whom in the last times you sent to us as savior and redeemer and angel of your will; …