Wednesday in the 1st Week of Lent

We continue our Lenten journey through the prayers of Holy Mass with today’s

SUPER OBLATA:
Offerimus tibi, Domine, quae dicanda tuo nomini tu dedisti,
ut, sicut eadem nobis efficis sacramentum,
ita fieri tribuas remedium sempiternum.

LITERAL VERSION:
O Lord, we are offering to you the things which You gave to be dedicated to Your Name,
so that, just as You are completing them as a sacrament for us,
so too You may grant them to become for us the eternal remedy.

We should stay close to the language of healing when we see a liturgical remedium.  In liturgical language we will often have "medicinal" language for concepts like "pardon" and "reconciliation" and the sanctifying effects of sacraments.  So, words like remedium and medicina and medela pop up frequently in Post Communions and Secrets (and Super Oblata).  The fact is that because of our fallen and children of Adam and Eve, we need the healing that comes from becoming true Sons of the Second Adam, through the adoption of sonship offered us through being living members of the Body of Christ. 

Everything has a purpose, or end to which they are destined.  The greatest end that a grape can have, for example is to yield not only wine, but wine for the altar, and not only for the altar but actually the wine that goes into the chalice to be consecrated. 

Just as the offerings of bread and wine are "completed" in an extraordinary way by being at Holy Mass, we also have a perfect end for which we are destined.  When we are integrated into the Body of Christ, we are brought closer to our end, which will be finalized in the Beatific Vision.

Sometimes it helps for us to identify ourselves with the gifts placed on the altar for consecration.  Moments before the Super Oblata prayer, we are invited by the priest to unite our sacrifices to those he offers in his manner of offering.  We all have both burdens and reasons to rejoice.  These we can consciously place into the chalice as the priest prepares it for their own change and elevation and "completion". In a way, the water can be like our own human and earthly portion being joined, absorbed and changed into the wine (the divine), even before they are stupendously raised as the Eucharist.

Put your cares and joys into that chalice together with the drops of water the priest adds to the wine.