By CARDINAL JOHN J. O'CONNOR

XII. Let Us Pray

Perhaps few elements of the Mass escape our concentrated attention more frequently than do the opening prayer, the prayer over the bread and wine about to become the Body and Blood of Christ, the prayer after Holy Communion. The lack of truly thoughtful attention is understandable. Some people may still be arriving when the opening prayer is prayed, some still settling, possibly the sound system leaves something to be desired, or we are distracted by people next to us in one way or another. Yet these prayers help set the tone, reflect the liturgical theme of the Mass, leave us at the end with a crucial thought to take with us.

For this column I have woven together portions of the three prayers of Ash Wednesday and of each of the lenten Sunday Masses, merely as illustrative. In their own way they tell us the story of Lent. We find equally rich the prayers of every Mass of the year. It is truly worth listening to them intently as prayed by the priest, praying them silently with him or reading them simultaneously in a missalette.

Ash Wednesday

Lord, protect us in our struggle against evil. As we begin the discipline of Lent, make this season holy by our self-denial. Father in heaven, the light of your truth bestows sight to the darkness of sinful eyes. Help us to resist temptation by our Lenten works of charity and penance. By this sacrifice may we be prepared to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ our Savior and be cleansed from sin and renewed in the spirit. Through this communion may our Lenten penance give you glory and bring us your protection. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

First Sunday of Lent

Father, through our observance of Lent, help us to understand the meaning of your Son's death and resurrection and teach us to reflect it in our lives. You formed man from the clay of the earth and breathed into him the spirit of life, but he turned from your face and sinned. Bring us back to you and to the life your Son won for us by his death on the cross. Make us worthy to bring you these gifts. May this sacrifice help to change our lives. Help us to live by your words and to seek Christ, our bread of life: who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

Second Sunday of Lent

God our Father, help us to hear your Son. Enlighten us with your word, that we may find the way to your glory. Father of light, in you is found no shadow of change, but only the fullness of life and limitless truth. Free us from the original darkness that shadows our vision. Restore our sight that we may look upon your Son who calls us to repentance and a change of heart. Make us holy. May this Eucharist take away our sins that we may be prepared to celebrate the resurrection. We give thanks for these holy mysteries which bring to us here on earth a share in the life to come, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Third Sunday of Lent

Father, you have taught us to overcome our sins by prayer, fasting and works of mercy. When we are discouraged by our weakness, give us confidence in your love. Lead us through a Lent of repentance to the beauty of Easter joy. By the grace of this sacrifice may we who ask forgiveness be ready to forgive one another and be brought together in unity and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Father of peace, we are joyful in your Word, your Son, Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to you. Let us hasten toward Easter with the eagerness of faith and love. May our faith, hope and charity turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, death to eternal life. Increase our reverence by this Eucharist, and bring salvation to the world. Fill our hearts with the light of your gospel, that our thoughts may please you, and our love be sincere. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Such prayers, arbitrarily woven together as above or standing singly, are extraordinarily rich in Church teaching, but so are the prayers of every season of the year. It seems to me a shame if we take them for granted or listen haphazardly, without making them our own. Faithful Mass attendees who have a missal or missalette at home might want to read and pray the three prayers even before going to Mass.

With this column we conclude our series of reflections on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, aware that we have not even scratched the surface of the surface of this inexhaustible mystery, this richest treasure of the Church. Nothing will preclude my returning to the Mass, however, from time to time in the future. It is the heart of all that I believe.