And so, Father, we bring you these gifts

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**And so Father, we bring you these gifts… **

bp0.blogger.com/_X4mg-GcztZM/RrRa-BcWaSI/AAAAAAAAAI0/ACE8x22VilM/s400/Angel(experement).jpg

What do you bring to the Altar of God during Holy Mass?

I remember reading somewhere a while back that at the Offertory of the Mass your Guardian Angel approaches the Altar of God carrying whatever it is you have offered to God during that Mass. As soon as I read it the article made perfect sense to me and ever since I have taken the time especially at the Offertory to place into the hands of my Guardian Angel three gifts. This is an effort to mirror the three gifts offered at the crib by the three Wise Men on that first Christmas night. As I explained before in a previous post, where the wise men offered Gold, I now offer God all that I have as gold is a sign of wealth and possession. Where Frankinsence was given, I now offer God all that I am since Frankinsence is seen as having medicinal properties for general well being. Where Myrrh was given, I now offer God all that I do. Myrrh when used as an essential oil given the person a feeling of well being and reinvigorates the creativity of the individual.

Today I became very aware of the fact that the gifts we offer, no matter what they are, are placed on the Altar by our Guardian Angles. Only today did I take to heart those wonderful words of the Priest “And so Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them holy throug the power of your Spirit…” I realised that the gifts of all that I am, all that I have and all that I do, were amongst the bread and wine that were being offered at that point. It was a powerful experience and I thank God for it.

I am also painfully aware at that point that many Guardian Angels have approached the Altar empty handed since some folk present have forgotten to offer God anything. They have come to ask and take and have forgotten the importance of the need to make our own offering during Holy Mass.

I pray to all the Guardian Angels of those who do not yet realise, or have forgotten, the importance of making an offering to God that they will gently lead these souls to the realisation of offering God something during Mass no matter how small.
 
A beautiful post. I’ve never read that about the guardian angels, but I did read that the priest at every Mass offers US and our intentions to the Father as well as the Body and Blood of Christ.

So I do the same - offer all I am, all I have, all I think do and say.
 
Fergal said:
What do you bring to the Altar of God during Holy Mass?
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A former pastor taught us that when the priest lifts up the paten and chalice at the Offertory we should place ourselves there, offering all that we are and all that we have to God, for a specific intention (for a conversion, for the souls in Purgatory, for a sick loved one, etc.).

I also try to do the same thing at the elevation just following the Consecration, uniting myself and all my little sufferings to the very real sacrifice of Jesus’ Body and Blood which is being offered to the Father.

What can we offer? Any good works we have done, any suffering we have endured, our time, our love, our contrition, anything that is on our minds …
 
Fergal said:
And so Father, we bring you these gifts…

bp0.blogger.com/_X4mg-GcztZM/RrRa-BcWaSI/AAAAAAAAAI0/ACE8x22VilM/s400/Angel(experement).jpg

What do you bring to the Altar of God during Holy Mass?

I remember reading somewhere a while back that at the Offertory of the Mass your Guardian Angel approaches the Altar of God carrying whatever it is you have offered to God during that Mass. As soon as I read it the article made perfect sense to me and ever since I have taken the time especially at the Offertory to place into the hands of my Guardian Angel three gifts. This is an effort to mirror the three gifts offered at the crib by the three Wise Men on that first Christmas night. As I explained before in a previous post, where the wise men offered Gold, I now offer God all that I have as gold is a sign of wealth and possession. Where Frankinsence was given, I now offer God all that I am since Frankinsence is seen as having medicinal properties for general well being. Where Myrrh was given, I now offer God all that I do. Myrrh when used as an essential oil given the person a feeling of well being and reinvigorates the creativity of the individual.

Today I became very aware of the fact that the gifts we offer, no matter what they are, are placed on the Altar by our Guardian Angles. Only today did I take to heart those wonderful words of the Priest “And so Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them holy throug the power of your Spirit…” I realised that the gifts of all that I am, all that I have and all that I do, were amongst the bread and wine that were being offered at that point. It was a powerful experience and I thank God for it.

I am also painfully aware at that point that many Guardian Angels have approached the Altar empty handed since some folk present have forgotten to offer God anything. They have come to ask and take and have forgotten the importance of the need to make our own offering during Holy Mass.

I pray to all the Guardian Angels of those who do not yet realise, or have forgotten, the importance of making an offering to God that they will gently lead these souls to the realisation of offering God something during Mass no matter how small.
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Your lovely post reminds me of a little book I picked up at a Catholic book store recently called “The Holy Mass”. It’s actually posted on-line at this web site:
greatcrusade.org/greatcrusade/Mass/Holy_Mass-Web.htm

The visionary, Catalina, has a vision of what happens at Holy Mass very similar to what you’re saying. It also reminded me of the prayer my mother taught me many years ago. When I would ask her to pray for me she would say, 'I’ve been putting you in the Cup and on the Paten" at Mass every day.

God bless,
M
 
Marysoffspring7 said:
Your lovely post reminds me of a little book I picked up at a Catholic book store recently called “The Holy Mass”. It’s actually posted on-line at this web site:
greatcrusade.org/greatcrusade/Mass/Holy_Mass-Web.htm

The visionary, Catalina, has a vision of what happens at Holy Mass very similar to what you’re saying. It also reminded me of the prayer my mother taught me many years ago. When I would ask her to pray for me she would say, 'I’ve been putting you in the Cup and on the Paten" at Mass every day.

God bless,
M
Click to expand...
Thank you for reminding me where I heard of this practice. The booklet called “The Holy Mass” is a wonderful read and carries the approval of the local ordinary too.

A must read for all of us.
 
I offer my life, it doesn’t belong to me, it is a gift on loan and I offer it (my ‘self’) back and everything and everyone in it with thanks to God.
 
How timely for me! I spent time last night with our pastor’s mother - helping her with errands. During our ice cream, we discussed many things. She said we are never to get angry with anyone or to hold grudges, or to let them disturb us, as God has said that “Vengeance is Mine”. She said for those troublesome issues, she takes them to Mass with her as imaginary gifts in her pocket and as the offerings are made, she offers those hurts and problems to the Lord. Then you truly let them go.

I have often, as taught in parochial school, “offered it up to Jesus”, but never in such a symbolic way. I think it is a wonderful way to truly give our burdens along with ourselves to the Lord.
 
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