In the story of Moses we read that he and the chosen people of God were attacked by enemies under the leadership of Amalec. After appointing Josue to lead the fight against Amalec, Moses went up to the top of a hill to pray the Lord for victory.
"And when Moses lifted up his hands. Israel overcame: but if he let them down a little, Amalec overcame." Exodus, 17 :11.
The arms of Moses grew heavy and weary. He could hold them up no longer. Calling Aaron and Hur, he bade them hold up his arms as he prayed. They did so until sunset, when the armies of God's people won the day.
That is a picture of your spiritual leader, your priest. In every Mass he holds up his arms like Moses, begging God to help the children of God win over the enemies of God. In particular, when the priest holds up his hands to pray the Collect or Proper Prayer he is like Moses on the mount praying with uplifted hands.
1. After the Gloria and Dominus Vobiscum (The Lord be with you) the priest goes to the Epistle side of the altar, bows to the tabernacle, extends and joins his hands as he says: "Let us pray." That is a call for all present to join with him in the official prayer which is to follow. It is a notice that this prayer is by all and for all. The priest faces the Missal with his hands the height and breadth of his shoulders, with his fingers pointing heavenward, the direction of his prayer.
This raising and extending of the arms is like that of Moses on the mount. Very especially it is in imitation of Christ with His arms extended upon the cross. Christ alone has the right to be heard by the heavenly Father. If man wishes to be heard, he must make himself one with his crucified Redeemer, he must unite himself with Christ on the cross by penance and sacrifice.
The priest is another Christ (Alter Christus), particularly at the altar. The priest is one with Christ; he takes the very place of Christ. He even extends his hands as did Christ on the cross. This was a favorite posture of prayer of the early Christians. It was the favorite position of prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and his followers. Think of Christ on the cross when you see the priest with extended arms praying for you.
2. The Collects are distinguished by their beauty and perfection of form, and for the variety and depth of their contents. They express the numberless needs of soul and body. In them we ask Almighty God for all manner of favors and blessings, and the turning away of evil.
Notice some of the things we ask for: We ask for the grace to serve Him, to let the light of divine faith shine in our works, to know our duty and fulfill it, to be renewed in the image of our Savior, to be supported by His continual help, to grow strong in body and soul, to be rescued from trials, to be protected from false teachings, to love the Commandments and to keep them, to grow in every virtue and to walk according to God's pleasure.
Each Collect has some special request, depending on the day or season or feast. Through the year the history of redemption is repeated and renewed in the Mass. In the life of our Lord and His Blessed Mother, in the lives of His saints, there is a rich source and school of supernatural life. Each week day, each Sunday, each feast has its special grace. For that grace we beg in the Collect.
3. The form of the Collect is quite uniform, amid all the variety and diversity of the contents. We do not merely ask God for things; we also praise, adore, thank Him, and beg His pardon. Usually all four of the principal kinds of prayer are found in each Collect.
4. Here we might consider an objection often made to Catholic worship:
"You Catholics have to pray formal prayers, don't you?"By that the questioner implies that we always say prayers found in
a book, or composed by others; we never pray in our own words.
Mother Church has a place for prayer in one's own words. She wants us to do more of it. She wants us to pray for things as we see the need and in our own language.
However, for official services I much prefer to say a prayer - like the Collect - which has been composed by some saint or scholar, with thought and meaning, than to hear a prayer on the spur of the moment. I don't want to belittle or ridicule the prayers offered in public by our friends of other faiths, but I have had to listen to prayers which murdered the Bible, murdered the teachings of Christ, and murdered the king's English, prayers with incomplete sentences and incomplete thoughts. I repeat: Give me a prayer that has taken time and talent in its making. The Collects are just that.
5. The conclusion of the Collects is a request that our prayer be granted in the name of Jesus. Christ Himself told us to ask the Father in His Name. That is why every official prayer of the Church, and particularly the proper prayer of Mass, ends with the petition:
"Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen."There are several variations of this conclusion, but they are essentially the same.
During the Mass watch the priest. When you see him with his hands raised like this, you must remember that he is taking the place of Christ. He is making himself one with Christ on the cross.
Remember too, the story of Moses, who was successful in prayer for his people as long as they helped him hold up his hands. Hold up the arms of your priest by praying with him, by uniting yourself with him, especially during the Holy Sacrifice. Then we will win over the enemies of our soul. Amen.
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Adapted from Talks on the Mass
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1950)
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