Q: I understand that there are thirteen Eucharistic Prayers: the four principal Eucharistic Prayers (I–IV), the two Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation, the four Eucharistic Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions, and the three Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children.
I also understand that, with the exception of Eucharistic Prayer I (the Roman Canon) and Eucharistic Prayer III, each Eucharistic Prayer has its own proper Preface. I am aware that Eucharistic Prayer II, although it has its own Preface, may also be used with other suitable Prefaces, whereas Eucharistic Prayer IV must always be used with its own proper Preface.
My question is this: among the Eucharistic Prayers outside of the four principal Eucharistic Prayers, which ones must be used with their own proper Preface, and which ones, although they have their own proper Preface, may also be used with other suitable Prefaces?
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A: Regarding Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions, here’s a previous post: https://paulturner.org/prefaces-2/
The prefaces for the prayers for Masses of Reconciliation may be replaced by other prefaces—the missal indicates that in a rubric at the head of those prayers.
No such rubric appears at the head of those for Children, so I presume that they remain intact.
Also, because the VNO prayer has four variations, it is usually considered to be one Eucharistic Prayer, not four, so the total number of eucharistic prayers in force is ten.
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