Despite the fact that there are 13 different Eucharistic Prayers (anaphora), there is a similar pattern to all of them. Each prayer begins with an address to God the Father followed by the petition to send the Holy Spirit to make the gifts of bread and wine holy that they may be worthy elements to be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This is known as the “epiclesis” and is accompanied by the gesture of the priest extending both hands over the bread and wine. Then the institution narrative begins recalling what took place at the last supper on the night before Jesus died. It is during this narrative that the consecration of the elements takes place. As the priest pronounces the words of institution (which are identical in every Eucharistic Prayer) over the bread, “This is my Body, which will be given up for you,” the bread is transformed into the Body of Christ. When the priest pronounces the words of institution over the wine in the chalice saying, “This is my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant…” At this time the wine is now transformed into the Blood of Christ. While still looking like and even tasting like bread and wine, we believe they have truly become the very Body and Blood of Jesus in substance. This mystery is known as “transubstantiation” meaning the substance, or what the element actually is in essence, has been transformed from bread and wine into the real presence of Jesus. Following each of the consecrations the priest holds up the consecrated element, then after placing it back on the altar, genuflects in adoration. The priest then encourages the people to respond to this awesome transformation that has just taken place on the altar by exclaiming, “The mystery of faith!” The assembly responds in speech or song with one of the three Memorial Acclamations.