Presentation of Gifts

[SamB]

At the Presentation of Gifts, a couple people normally take up the ‘gifts’ to the Priest, who is waiting in front of the Altar. Our Parish has started something new and I’m not sure whether it is licit or not. Now, a family will bring not only the gifts, but they bring the Altar cloth, and corporal. They then proceed to put on the Altar cloth, corporal, and set the gifts on the Altar - all the while the Priest is sitting in his chair. When they are finished, the Priest commences with the Presentation of the Gifts. Does this conform to the Norms?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

SamB:

At the Presentation of Gifts, a couple people normally take up the ‘gifts’ to the Priest, who is waiting in front of the Altar. Our Parish has started something new and I’m not sure whether it is licit or not. Now, a family will bring not only the gifts, but they bring the Altar cloth, and corporal. They then proceed to put on the Altar cloth, corporal, and set the gifts on the Altar - all the while the Priest is sitting in his chair. When they are finished, the Priest commences with the Presentation of the Gifts. Does this conform to the Norms?

Yes, this is an option that is acceptable:

1. 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, the altar, the Lord’s table, which is the center of the whole Liturgy of the Eucharist, is prepared by placing on it the corporal, purificator, Missal, and chalice (unless the chalice is prepared at the credence table).

The offerings are then brought forward. It is praiseworthy 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 and carried to the altar. Even though the faithful no longer bring from their own possessions the bread and wine intended for the liturgy as in the past, nevertheless the rite of carrying up the offerings still retains its force and its spiritual significance.

It is well also that money or other gifts for the poor or for the Church, brought by the faithful or collected in the church, should be received. These are to be put in a suitable place but away from the eucharistic table.

Deacon Ed

 

[Crusader]

SamB:

At the Presentation of Gifts, a couple people normally take up the ‘gifts’ to the Priest, who is waiting in front of the Altar. Our Parish has started something new and I’m not sure whether it is licit or not. Now, a family will bring not only the gifts, but they bring the Altar cloth, and corporal. They then proceed to put on the Altar cloth, corporal, and set the gifts on the Altar - all the while the Priest is sitting in his chair. When they are finished, the Priest commences with the Presentation of the Gifts. Does this conform to the Norms?

No, it’s definately not acceptable. If they actually bring-up the altar cloth (as opposed to the corporal), that would suggest the altar is stripped. Mass is not to begin with a stripped altar.

Further, said people are also not ministers of the altar. They shouldn’t be placing anything directly on the altar. They should be handing the gifts to a priest or deacon.

This is bad, bad form. Completely unacceptable.

 

[JimG]

“The offerings are then brought forward. It is praiseworthy 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 and carried to the altar.”

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Okay, I reread the initial question. If the “altar cloth” is a second cloth that goes on the altar it’s okay. If the altar is stripped it’s not. As crusader has mentioned, the altar must have a white cloth on it at the start of Mass (the only exception is on Good Friday when the Veneration of the Cross starts with the altar stripped).

The gifts must be given to a deacon or priest, not placed on the altar by the ones bringing them up. I somehow missed that in the original question as well.

Deacon Ed

 

[Crusader]

Deacon Ed:

Okay, I reread the initial question. If the “altar cloth” is a second cloth that goes on the altar it’s okay. If the altar is stripped it’s not. As crusader has mentioned, the altar must have a white cloth on it at the start of Mass (the only exception is on Good Friday when the Veneration of the Cross starts with the altar stripped).

The gifts must be given to a deacon or priest, not placed on the altar by the ones bringing them up. I somehow missed that in the original question as well.

Deacon Ed

Few altars are dressed with more than an altar cloth. Even on Good Friday it would be wrong for the altar to be stripped at this point in the liturgy.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Crusader:

Few altars are dressed with more than an altar cloth. Even on Good Friday it would be wrong for the altar to be stripped at this point in the liturgy.

On Good Friday the altar is stripped until the Blessed Sacrament is brought out. At that point there is only a corporal and two candles that are placed on the altar. Many altars have two cloths: one that is white and one that matches the color of the season.

Deacon Ed

 

[Crusader]

Deacon Ed:

On Good Friday the altar is stripped until the Blessed Sacrament is brought out. At that point there is only a corporal and two candles that are placed on the altar. Many altars have two cloths: one that is white and one that matches the color of the season.

Deacon Ed

Indeed, so why even bring-up the Good Friday liturgy which is a special case?

I see colored trim or runners on many altars, but not an actual cloth that covers it like an altar cloth.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Crusader:

Indeed, so why even bring-up the Good Friday liturgy which is a special case?

I see colored trim or runners on many altars, but not an actual cloth that covers it like an altar cloth.

A colored cloth is also permitted, and I’ve seen them at a number of churches.

Deacon Ed