The Catholic Defender: The Great Amen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDR377Az6RQiI&v=R377Az6RQiI

The Great Amen is the “people's prayer” that concludes the eucharistic prayer. The Great Amen is printed in all capital letters in the BCP to emphasize the importance of this moment in the liturgy.

The Great Amen is considered the crucial, climactic, and legalistic "people's prayer" that seals and affirms the entire Eucharistic Prayer. While the priest acts in persona Christi during the prayer, the congregation's loud, sung "Amen" signifies their total, communal assent to the sacrifice and presence of Christ, making it essential to the liturgy.

It represents the active, vocal participation of the congregation, transforming the Eucharistic prayer from something merely heard to something they "sign" and make their own.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, Amen! Hallelujah. (1 Chr 16:36).

The Great Amen is the solemn, concluding "Amen" sung or spoken by the congregation at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer (Doxology) in Christian liturgy, affirming faith in the real presence of Christ and the entire preceding sacrifice. It acts as a final "Yes" and personal signature to the prayer, with roots meaning "so be it" or "it is true"

Derived from Hebrew, it signifies "let it be," "make it so," or "I believe," serving as a profound declaration of faith and a "yes" to God's glory.

It serves as a, if not the, definitive, final, and most important "amen" of the mass, confirming the worshippers' union with Christ and their participation in the Eucharistic sacrifice.

It is considered the climax of the Eucharistic Prayer, transforming the individual prayers into a communal act of praise.

It signifies the assembly's assent, agreement, and commitment to all that has occurred, particularly the consecration of bread and wine.

It represents the Church's united, joyful response to the grace of the Eucharist, sealing participation in Christ's sacrifice.

A "Yes" to God: It serves as a solemn "Yes!" to the mystery of the Trinity and the sacrifice just celebrated on the altar.

Catholics say the word “Amen” (or “Ah-men”) a lot. We say it at the end of prayers, often after we make the sign of the cross, and when we receive communion. In the mass, there is one ‘Amen’ that we call the Great Amen. This is usually sung together by the congregation at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer.

The priest elevates the host and the chalice and says or sings, “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.” And the congregation responds with the Great Amen.

Amen is one of just two Hebrew words that we still use in the Mass. (The other being ‘Alleluia.’) The word has a number of different meanings. Jesus often said, “Amen, amen, I say to you…” In this case, it means “truly.” When we receive the Body of Christ, we say “Amen” to mean “I believe.” And in the Great Amen, it takes on the added meaning of “Yes!”

The ancient Jews used “Amen” when they sure an oath. It was not used flippantly or taken lightly. And so it should be for Catholics, as in the Great Amen, we give it all its nuanced meanings.

“Yes! Truly, I believe!”