Offertory

[earquiza]

I was taught that we’re offering the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ at the Offertory. But there seems to be a misconsception here where I reside most of the year (or I may be wrong). At the beginning of Offertory, the collection basket is passed (standard practice) but here in addition to that, there are a number of persons (and usually the same ones) who’d rather walk up the aisle and personally hand. their money envelopes to the Presider. This is encouraged by every church org — to “offer” their money envelopes, walk up the aisle as a group. Sometimes the Presider meets them, accepts the money envelopes (or some other “offerings”), some other priests go ahead with the Offertory prayers and then stops to meet the “offerers” when they reach the foot of the altar. This is not the practice in our parish in NYC that’s why I’m confused, actually bothered why nobody is explaining it. The kids in school thinks we only offer money during the Eucharistic Celebration.
Can someone enlighten me on this one.

 

[ConstantineTG]

There is a procession during the offertory where the gifts are presented to the priest. The gifts are the bread and wine to be consecrated, but would also have other gifts which sometimes is determined by the culture. Like in the Philippines it is customary to give food, especially harvest foods as traditionally the livelihood of people is farming (not sure if fish is offered in the fishing villages though). Also flowers.

As for the money, it may be a custom that money is given to the priest directly. Again, its determined by local customs.

 

[paperwight66]

No, we are not offering the Body and Blood during the offertory.

We are offering the elements (bread and wine) which will BECOME the Body and Blood. when the priest speaks the words of consecration.

Perhaps you just mis-typed. I’d be appalled if you really were taught that the bread and wine in the Offertory Procession really are the Body and Blood at that stage.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I was taught that we’re offering the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ at the Offertory.

The Offertory is taking up bread and wine for the priest to offer and confect as the Body and Blood of Christ.

But there seems to be a misconsception here where I reside most of the year (or I may be wrong). At the beginning of Offertory, the collection basket is passed (standard practice) but here in addition to that, there are a number of persons (and usually the same ones) who’d rather walk up the aisle and personally hand. their money envelopes to the Presider. This is encouraged by every church org — to “offer” their money envelopes, walk up the aisle as a group. Sometimes the Presider meets them, accepts the money envelopes (or some other “offerings”), some other priests go ahead with the Offertory prayers and then stops to meet the “offerers” when they reach the foot of the altar. This is not the practice in our parish in NYC that’s why I’m confused, actually bothered why nobody is explaining it. The kids in school thinks we only offer money during the Eucharistic Celebration.
Can someone enlighten me on this one.

That sounds unusual. Everywhere I’ve been to Mass a number of people pass around baskets for the collection. They are the designated ushers for that Mass. Then they take up the money to the priest. This is always taken up after the bread and wine. It seems rather strange that lots of people are taking up their offering personally. That smacks to me of: “oh, look at me”. It’s drawing unnecessary attention to themselves. It draws the focus off the liturgy on to them.

 

[OraLabora]

When a monk makes his procession or an oblate his or promise, the signed charter is brought to the altar along with the bread and wine.

Bringing your weekly envelope up the aisle though sounds wrong… like showing off.

 

[earquiza]

@paperwight66 and @Matthew: you’re right. the elements (bread and wine) BECOME the BODY and BLOOD of our LORD at consecration. I did not explain it well. thanks.

@OraLabora: Yes, I feel like I’m showing off by personally handing the money envelope to the Presider. But it’s quite noticeable that those who are known to be quite wealthy locally don’t follow the custom. I don’t get it…It’s quite distracting to me actually. They remain at the foot of the altar until the bread and wine (last) are handed over, then the Presider blesses them. Well, how about those who put their money in the collection basket? they don’t get any blessing? Is this liturgical (don’t know the proper term)?

Anyway, like the saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”. I just don’t! but I give of course!

Thanks all for your responses…

 

[zab]

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal

The Preparation of the Gifts
73. At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist the gifts which will become Christ’s Body and Blood are brought to the altar.
First of all, the altar or Lord’s table, which is the center of the whole Liturgy of the Eucharist,[69] is made ready when on it are placed the corporal, purificator, Missal, and chalice (unless this last is prepared at the credence table).
The offerings are then brought forward. It is a praiseworthy practice for the bread and wine to be presented by the faithful. They are then accepted at an appropriate place by the Priest or the Deacon to be carried to the altar. Even though the faithful no longer bring from their own possessions the bread and wine intended for the liturgy as was once the case, nevertheless the rite of carrying up the offerings still keeps its spiritual efficacy and significance.
Even money or other gifts for the poor or for the Church, brought by the faithful or collected in the church, are acceptable; given their purpose, they are to be put in a suitable place away from the Eucharistic table.
74. The procession bringing the gifts is accompanied by the Offertory Chant (cf. no. 37 b), which continues at least until the gifts have been placed on the altar. The norms on the manner of singing are the same as for the Entrance Chant (cf. no. 48). Singing may always accompany the rite at the Offertory, even when there is no procession with the gifts.

 

[zab]

Even money or other gifts for the poor or for the Church, brought by the faithful or collected in the church, are acceptable; given their purpose, they are to be put in a suitable place away from the Eucharistic table. G.I.R.M.

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For many years, our parish has had a custom when we celebrate Mass on the secular holiday of Thanksgiving. During the Offertory before the gifts of bread and wine are brought forward, the congregation goes row by row bringing forward their bags of non-perishable food to be given to our local Society of St. Vincent de Paul for distribution to the poor. During this time some also bring forward their monetary donations as well.

 

[TimothyH]

The bringing forward of the gifts is also the time to bring forward our troubles, trials, the tempations we have successfully overcome, our fasts, good works, blessings, out friends and family who are hurting… all of these and more, it is the time to bring these forward and place them on the altar to be offered to God through the hands of the priest.

I think of the drop of water - plain old water, the most common substance on earth - which the priest mixes with the wine, which becomes the blood of Christ which saves all mankind. My ordinary struggles and good works, and the ordinary struggles of my family and friends whom I pray for - struggles common to all of us - are like that simple drop of water, which when mixed with wine and offered up to Christ, help to save the whole world.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, (1 Colossians 1:24)

Our faith is a shared faith. I feel sorry for the “Jesus and me” Christians who miss out on the redemtive nature of suffereing, and how one person can work to save the soul of another person through his own merits and sufferings. There is no better time to offer those things to Christ than when the priest adds that drop of water to the wine.

By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

Those are the words of the priest when he adds the water. Christ humbled himself, became one of us, and knows what it means to suffer like us. Our spiritual gifts are just a drop of water, but when mixed with the blood of Christ’s suffereng, are redemtive for all mankind. It’s humbling to think that God allows us to share in Christ’s redemtive work. It’s not just about material gifts, but about spiritual gifts as well. And there is no better time to offer those gifts to God than during the liturgy of the Eucharist.

-Tim-