Chapter 27: The Castle Chapel: Part 4

The priest stood before the altar, his gaze sweeping over the congregation gathered in the chapel, a reverent silence spread throughout the room. With a clear and serene voice, he broke the silence that preceded the most sacred rite.

"Let us begin the Eucharist," he announced solemnly. "You may bring forth the bread and the wine."

In response, two members of the community rose from their seats. In their hands, they carried the offerings that would be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The bread, unleavened and baked with care and respect, and the wine, fruit of the vine and human labor.

As they approached the altar, the rest of the faithful watched with devotion, aware of the profound significance of this act. The deacon waited beside the priest, ready to assist in preparing the altar for the moment of consecration.

The priest received the offerings with outstretched hands, briefly lifting them so that the entire assembly could see them. "Blessed are you, Lord, God of the universe, for this bread, fruit of the earth and work of human hands, which we have received from your generosity and now present to you. It will be for us the bread of life."

"Blessed be God forever," the congregation responded in one voice.

After placing the bread on the altar, he took the chalice with the wine and repeated a similar gesture. "Blessed are you, Lord, God of the universe, for this wine, fruit of the vine and work of human hands, which we have received from your generosity and now present to you. It will be for us the drink of salvation."

"Blessed be God forever."

The deacon carefully arranged the elements on the altar while the priest invited the congregation to pray. "Brothers and sisters, may this sacrifice, mine and yours, be pleasing to God the Almighty Father."

The community joined in prayer, conscious that they were about to participate in the mystery of faith that united them as a family in Christ.

The priest, with outstretched hands, invited the congregation to join in prayer:

"The Lord be with you."

And the people responded: "And with your spirit."

"Lift up your hearts," he continued.

"We lift them up to the Lord," the assembly replied.

"Let us give thanks to the Lord our God."

"It is right and just," the faithful affirmed.

Then, the priest began the Preface:

"It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For you live and reign in a world without end of time, but in this time that passes you offer us the time of salvation and call us to await with joy and hope the glorious coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

"Therefore, with angels and archangels, with thrones and dominions, and with all the heavenly hosts, we sing the hymn of your glory without ceasing:"

And the entire congregation joined to proclaim:

"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, God of the universe..."

After the acclamation of the "Sanctus," the priest extended his hands over the offerings and, with deep reverence, invoked the presence of the Holy Spirit:

"We ask you, Father, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ."

At that sacred moment, the congregation was immersed in an even deeper silence, aware of the transcendence of the act that was about to happen.

The priest, taking the bread in his hands, continued with the words of consecration, repeating the gesture and words of Jesus at the Last Supper:

"On the night he was betrayed, he took bread and, giving thanks, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: 'Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you.'"

With great devotion, he raised the consecrated host so that all could adore it, and then carefully placed it on the corporal.

Then, he took the chalice in his hands and, in the same way, pronounced the words that Jesus said upon taking the wine:

"In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying: 'Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.'"

The chalice was raised before the gaze of the faithful, who in their hearts repeated the mystery of faith.

The priest placed the chalice next to the host and, with hands joined, invited the congregation to proclaim the mystery of faith, saying:

"This is the Sacrament of our faith."

And everyone responded with one voice:

"We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again."

The priest, with hands extended over the offerings, said with a firm voice:

"Therefore, Father, as we now celebrate the memorial of your Son's death and Resurrection, we offer you the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, and we thank you for making us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you."

"Humbly we ask that the Holy Spirit gather into one all who partake of the Body and Blood of Christ."

"Remember, Lord, your Church spread throughout the world, and with Pope Pascual II, our Archbishop García de Burgos, and all the pastors who care for your people, bring her to the fullness of charity."

"Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy; welcome them into the light of your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her spouse, with the blessed Apostles, and all the saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ."

With hands extended and joined, the priest concluded with the Final Doxology, as the congregation prepared to respond:

"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, forever and ever."

The congregation, with faith and devotion, responded with a resounding:

"Amen."