During the celebration of the Mass, there are numerous prayers said quietly or in a low voice by the celebrant and deacon. This includes the blessing given to a deacon or priest before the proclamation of the Gospel (May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips, that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit) or by the priest himself (Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel)after the proclamation of Gospel (Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away), when wine and water is poured into the chalice (By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity), after the presentation of the bread and wine (With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God), during the washing of hands (Wash me, O Lord, for my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin), the celebrant’s prayers before Communion (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God… or May the receiving of your Body and Blood…), and during the purification of the paten and chalice (What has passed ours lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time, may be our healing for eternity). In addition, if there is not an Offertory Chant or Hymn, the prayers at the Presentation of Gifts (Blessed are you…) may be said in low voice.
Throughout the Liturgy the celebrant, the one who presides, prayers in the name of the Church and of the assembled faithful. But, the prayers prayed silently, are prayed in the celebrant’s or deacon’s own name, asking that he may exercise his ministry with greater attention and devotion (cf GIRM 33). These are called ‘apologetic’ prayers, and were introduced to the Latin Rite in around AD 700 (cf. Missale Gothicum).‘Apologetic’ in meaning the expressing of sorrow or contrition. In the previous versions of the Roman Missal there were many ‘apologetic’ prayers. By their very nature they are private prayers of the celebrant and/or deacon and therefore the are recited quietly, in a low voice, or inaudible. Nevertheless, this not exclude the faithful using them privately during the celebration of the Mass in order to foster greater devotion.
