Procedures at Holy mass

[eddiejpeters]

During Mass following the Prayers of intercession members of the congregation take the Unconcecrated Bread and wine in procession to the Altar .
My question:- Is it appropriate the Altar servers to present to the priest, Unconcecrated Big Host (on a Paten) and any small Host (in a suborium), or do the Altar servers just place the Items on the Altar directly?

My opinion is that it is a gesture of the congregation’s offering being handed to the priest.

Which proceedure is appropriate?

God Bless

 

[CRM_Brother]

Hello eddiepeters,
This is one of the aspects of the Mass which is at the discression of the pastor. The altar servers are there simply to facilitate the flow of the Mass (usually). They are a remnant from when there were attendants (sometimes even a minor clerical order called Porters fulfilled this role) to attend to the physical offerings being given at Mass such as livestock and produce from the faithful’s farms.

God Bless,
Br. Ben CRM

 

[Phemie]

We had a retired archbishop serve our parish for a month when we were between pastors. He insisted that the members of the congregation who brought up the offerings come right to the altar and he received from them the bread and wine at the proper time.

All other priests have simply stood at the front of the altar and received the offerings from the gift bearers. They then hand each in turn to the altar servers who place them on the altar. Ideally, when you read the GIRM, the gifts would be handed to the priest at the altar because

1. The bread and wine are placed on the altar by the Priest to the accompaniment of the prescribed formulas; the Priest may incense the gifts placed on the altar and then incense the cross and the altar itself, so as to signify the Church’s offering and prayer rising like incense in the sight of God. Next, the Priest, because of his sacred ministry, and the people, by reason of their baptismal dignity, may be incensed by the Deacon or by another minister.

 

[JohnLilburne]

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (from the section Mass Without a Deacon):

“139. … An acolyte or other lay minister places the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall, and the Missal on the altar.”

“141. The Priest accepts the paten with the bread at the altar, holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands and says quietly, Benedictus es, Domine (Blessed are you, Lord God). Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.”

The Ceremonial of Bishops has in the chapter “Stational Mass of the Diocesan Bishop”:

“145. … The deacons or the bishop receive the gifts of the faithful at a convenient place. The bread and wine are brought by the deacons to the altar; the other gifts are taken to a suitable place prepared beforehand.
146. The bishop goes to the altar, lays aside the miter, receives the paten with the bread from the deacon, and, holding the paten in both hands a little above the altar, says the appropriate formularly inaudibly. Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.
147. Meanwhile, the deacon pours wine and a little water into the cup, saying inaudibly, By the mystery. He then hands the cup to the bishop, who holds it with both hands above the altar …”.

 

[eddiejpeters]

Thank you one and all.
I am more informed now.
Keep up the good work.
God bless