Really short offertory prayers

[hereagain]

I go to a parish every so often where a Monsignor has Mass. He’s very good. I attend the weekday Mass which is the typical efficient short version. This particular Monsignor really varies the prayers used-I know priests have quite a bit of liberty as to which prayers to use during Mass especially during Ordinary Time. Personally, I like it that he uses a variety instead of the same one’s all week during OT. He will also use various Eucharistic prayers.

Something I’ve noticed recently when I was there is during the offertory when he holds up the paten with the unconsecrated bread followed by the chalice of unconsecrated wine (with the drop of water at that point) unlike most all other priests in the area, he says the offertory prayers silently. This is rare around here as just about all others speak it out loud so we respond with the two “blessed be God forever” response.

I’m not sure what he prays at that point. It’s obviously not “blessed are you God of all creation, for by your goodness…etc” because it’s too short. I’ve even tried saying his part in my head and whatever he prays is much shorter. So short he usually has to wait for the altar server to bring the water and towel for the hand washing.

I’ve tried to find here and online if there are alternate prayers priests can pray during the offertory but haven’t found anything. I know they can pray it silently - in my childhood, about all the priests I knew at the time in the area I lived in then did unlike here.

Unless he actually just prays that really fast…

Ever see/hear of this? Is there a short version I don’t know about?

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

One can make those prayers particularly fast if they’re memorized and said daily. I wouldn’t be surprised. However, if I recall, they are intended to be verbalized/heard with responses when there’s no music or singing at that time. (Not something I’d lose much sleep over, though.)

 

[InThePew]

Unless he actually just prays that really fast…

More likely this - just saying them in his head. In fairness, the rubrics in the missal refer to the words being said “in a low voice” (or aloud, when the offertory chant is not sung) but a lot of priests will just say the words to themselves, with or without an offertory chant.

 

[JohnLilburne]

From the Roman Missal’s Order of Mass:

"23. The Priest, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life.
Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.
If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, the Priest may speak these words aloud; at the end, the people may acclaim:
Blessed be God for ever.

24 . The Deacon, or the Priest, pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying quietly:
By the mystery of this water and wine
may we come to share in the divinity of Christ
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

25 . The Priest then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.
Then he places the chalice on the corporal.
If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, the Priest may speak these words aloud; at the end, the people may acclaim:
Blessed be God for ever.

26 . After this, the Priest bowing profoundly, says quietly:
With humble spirit and contrite heart
may we be accepted by you, O Lord,
and may our sacrifice in your sight this day
be pleasing to you, Lord God."

27 is about incense.

“28. Then the Priest, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying quietly:
Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.”

[Excerpts from the English translation of the Roman Missal, © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]

 

[hereagain]

ya, you’re right. Most likely just prays real fast. Saw another priest do this pretty fast the other day too!