Through Him, and With Him, and In Him

The Roman Canon (First Eucharistic Prayer) and all of the other Eucharistic Prayers end with words that are called “the Great Doxology.”

Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours,
for ever and ever.
           
These eloquent words from the Mass are some of the most familiar to people, and yet, are probably some of the least understood. The word “doxology” is taken from two Greek words: “doxa” (meaning praise) and “logos” (meaning words). We see, then, that the ending of the Canon is all about praise.
           
We remember that the Canon prayed by the priest is addressed to God the Father. It begins with the words, “To you, therefore, most merciful Father…” The entire Canon or Eucharistic Prayer is centered on the words spoken by Our Lord at the Last Supper which we call the words of consecration. “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is My Body” and “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood.” At the moment of the pronouncement of these words, the bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist” (#1377). By the consecration of the bread and wine at Mass the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is made present. The Catechism notes, “The only perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered on the cross as a total offering to the Father's love and for our salvation.” (#2100). 
           
The bread and wine becoming the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ (called “transubstantiation” or “change in substance”) happens by the priest’s calling down the Holy Spirit upon them (called the “epiclesis”—“calling down”).
           
The one perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is the greatest expression of adoration of the Holy Trinity into which we are called to participate. This offering of incomprehensible love to the Father can only be accomplished by God the Son Himself through the power of God the Holy Spirit. That is why the Canon ends with the words of praise (the Great Doxology) whereby glory and honor is offered to God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit through, with, and in Jesus Christ.
           
These words that are so familiar to us are really a window to what happens at the altar when Mass is offered. Through the Sacrifice of the Cross made present at Mass, all honor and glory is offered to the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Each one of us by virtue of our baptism is called to enter into this act of adoration and love of the Holy Trinity. We enter into the tremendous mystery of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus and we fall down in adoration of the Holy Trinity. Christ makes it possible for us to do so. In this great mystery, we find our true identity and the truth of our relationship with God Himself.
           
It is through this mystery of adoration and praise that all of the world is transformed by the love and mercy of God.  It is in and through this mystery that all of the pain and suffering of people throughout the world is healed and made sense of.  It is through this great mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice that divisions cease, the work of proclaiming the Gospel is empowered, and the mission of the Church to bring Christ’s renewing love is continued.  We see that “through Him, and with Him and in Him” we live our baptismal call to out and teach all nations that Christ is Lord!

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh