Dialogue, Opening (Eucharist)
The practice of opening the eucharistic prayer with a dialogue between presider and people dates from the early church, as recorded in the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus in about the year 215. The dialogue consists of three exchanges: the salutation, “The Lord be with you,” the command, “Lift up your hearts,” and the request, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” The people express their agreement or consent in each exchange. Anglican Prayer Books from 1552 until recent revisions omitted the salutation.
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.