The Idea of Unity and Catholicity of the Church in the Custom of Mentioning the Bishop’s Name in the Eucharistic Prayer

Abstract

The editio tertia emendata of the Paul VI Missal was made available to the Church in 2008. Particularly noteworthy among the many emendationes of this edition is the one that refers to the situation when the bishop celebrates the Holy Mass outside his own diocese. In the Missal published in 2002, it was suggested that this mention should be as follows: et me indigno famulo tuo, et fratre meo N., Episcopo huius Ecclesiae N. In the revised edition it is proposed that the “guest” bishop should mention his brother first (et fratre meo N.), who for him is the bishop of the diocese where he celebrates Mass, and only later mention himself (et me indigno famulo tuo). In doing so, he should also not additionally define the local Church as “N.,” i.e., for example, Varsovian or Washingtonian, which, as such, do not exist, but he should pray for the bishop of “this Church” (huius Ecclesiae), within which he celebrates the liturgy in communion with the universal Church, emphasized by fraternal unity with the local pastor. The article shows that this modification is of great theological significance and corresponds to the ecclesiology of Vatican II.