The Offertory
Prayer of the Prothesis
Prayer of the Prothesis (Prayer of Covering)
Priest
O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the coeternal and undefiled Word of the Father; Who is coessential with the Father and the Holy Spirit; You are the Living Bread which came down from heaven, and made Yourself a lamb without spot for the life of the world. We ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of mankind: cause Your face to shine upon this bread, and upon this cup, which we have set upon this, Your priestly table; Bless them, Sanctify them, Purify them and change them, so that this bread may become Your holy Body, and the mixture in this cup, Your precious Blood, and that they may become to us all for partaking and healing, and for the salvation of our souls, bodies and spirits. For You are our God, and glory is due unto You with Your good Father and the Holy Spirit, the Life-giver, Who is coessential with You, both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Commentary
After the Prayer of Thanksgiving, the Priest covers the altar with a veil called the prospherine. The covering indicates that a significant part of the life of the Lord Jesus on earth was hidden, and that His life is a holiness that cannot be approached.
The covering of the sacrifice also indicates the period of the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ in the tomb, which ended with the resurrection from the dead. This resurrection is signified when the prospherine is lifted during the Prayer of Reconciliation in the Liturgy of the Faithful.
“declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”— Romans 1:4
The celebrant and concelebrant, both in white garments, together represent the two angels that St Mary Magdalene saw in the tomb — one standing at His head and the other at His feet. This prayer declares also that partaking of Holy Communion is for healing and salvation of our souls, bodies and spirits.