Let Us Pray
The phrase
“Let us pray” is heard often during the Mass.
The first time we hear this invitation is at the beginning of the
liturgy just before we sit for the first reading. This prayer, also known as the opening
prayer, is officially named the Collect.
Some say it is named the Collect because it is a prayer that is meant to
collect all the prayers that we as individuals bring to the Mass.
You might
notice that there is a slight pause after the words “Let us pray.” This is not because the Priest forgot the
words. It is because the Church calls
for silence during this particular time.
The instructions in the Roman Missal:
The Priest calls upon the people
to pray and everybody, together with the Priest, observes a brief silence so
that they may become aware of being in God’s presence and may call to mind
their intentions. GIRM #54
Many of our
Collects have been in use since the sixth century. If you listen closely, you will notice that
these prayers are jam-packed. Typically,
there is an invocation that names God, a phrase that speaks of who God is or
something God has done, a petition, a purpose for the petition, and a
conclusion which affirms our prayer in unity with the triune God.
Grant us, we pray, O Lord our
God,
the constant gladness of being
devoted to you,
for it is full and lasting
happiness
to serve with constancy
the author of all that is
good.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
The Collect
above, from this Sunday’s liturgy speaks of the unique joy that we believe
comes from being faithful disciples. This
prayer draws us to the virtue of constancy.
In Latin, the word is canstare, which
means to stand firm. We are called to stand firm in faith. And so we ask for just that – and nothing
more. And we believe that such
unwavering service can result in only one thing: unceasing gladness, “full and lasting happiness,”
joy beyond our imagination. It is the
reward promised to good and faithful servants.
