Amid blogosphere commentary that usually interprets in favor of a restriction of possible Eucharistic Prayers on Sundays, or even a strong lean toward the Roman Canon, I notice Zenit’s liturgy columnist Fr McNamara endorses the choice of the two reconciliation prayers on Lenten Sundays. Over the years, I’ve noted this is a frequent choice for presiders.
Sit in the purple chair and reply to two questions: What have you heard? What would you do?
Catholic Sensibility 
My pastor uses the two reconciliation prayers during Lent, maybe even exclusively. I hear EPR I more than EPR II, I think.
I would support more frequent use of the Roman Canon (EP I) and far less frequent use of the one based on the Hippolytan anaphora (EP II). Still, during Lent, I do see the value of EPR I and II.
Well, in Cycle A and in places using Cycle A for RCIA, I am not sure I would want to make sure to be able to use the prefaces for at least the Third and Fifth Sundays of Lent.
I like both EPRs. Were I a priest, I would probably tend to use the EPs as follows:
I-All solemnities, and matrimony, where a special insertion is provided; all Sundays and feasts of Christmastide and Eastertide; most solemnities, and many feasts of our Lord and Lady; titular and dedicatory feasts of the diocese and parish.
II-Some weekdays and ritual masses – and when a non-climate controlled church is close to dangerously hot/still or cold for a number of people.
III-Most weekdays and funerals
IV-Most Sundays in Ordinary Time
EPRs: Lent and as appropriate
I never got to hear the lovely Jubilee 2000 anaphora; did anyone else?
Sorry, I should have deleted “I am not sure” from the above….
Count me among those who favor fewer options. It seems to me that active participation demands that we pray the liturgy of the Eucharist with the priest: praying to the Father and listening to someone else pray to the Father are two different things. The multiplication of options for the anaphora leads to one of three things, none of which are ideal:
1) Flip around in the missalette and race to catch up when (and if) you find the anaphora.
2) Pick an anaphora and pray it, regardless of what the priest is praying. They are all substantially the same anyway. It’s active, but is it the best participation?
3) Shut up and listen, active participation at its best! And try not to let your mind wander as you hear a slight variation of something you’ve already heard hundreds of times. Good luck with that.
God bless those priests who let you know ahead of time which anaphora you are choosing!
Of course, everything I said about anaphoras goes in spades for the prefaces, most of which are omitted from missalettes. While I have heard priests announce their anaphoras, or at least post them on the hymn board, I’ve never seen anything like this done for prefaces. And yet the preface is in some ways the very heart of the Eucharistic liturgy. At any rate, it is where we get the word “Eucharist”: “always and everywhere to give you thanks”.
Todd:
Thanks for the link!
Just to be absolutely clear, I do not object to using the other, approved, eucharistic prayers; I use them all, at various points. (Not that Todd’s post said or implied otherwise, but one poster on my site seemed to read me that way, so I want to be sure I don’t send a wrong message.)
As far as the Reconciliation prayers; I use them on weekdays, a handful of times each Lent. As I said on my own site, I think one can overdo variety in these prayers, particularly for folks who come to Mass 60 times a year, even more for those who come less often (as opposed to daily Mass-goers).
For many years, now, I have used EPR I on all the Sundays of Lent. In my own opinion, it’s the most beautiful and paschal of all the EP’s.
Keeping EPR I primarily for Lent has developed a taste for it in my parish. Before Lent began, several folks asked if we’d be doing the “Lenten EP” again.
I acknowledge using EP II on Sundays. My preference would be EP III but more often than not I preside at three Eucharists on Sunday morning and EP II helps me complete the marathon.
I assume you don’t use it on Passion Sunday….
Liam — was your question for me?
I honestly don’t remember which EP I used the past few years on Passion (Palm) Sunday, but I don’t use II, maybe I used III.
Liam, if your comment was for me, no I don’t use EP II on Passion Sunday, I use EPR I.
For the past 6 months I’ve heard EP II at approximately 95% of Masses I’ve attended.
I’m envious of those who hear EP I… and even those hearing the EPRs.
EPR’s for Lent alternating each year I or II.