WHAT DO WE ANSWER WHEN WE PRESENT THE OFFERINGS AT MASS?

The offertory is the part of the Mass where the bread and wine are presented to God, which will be consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. During the offertory, the faithful offer not only the material gifts of bread and wine, but also their own lives, joys, sufferings, and the fruit of labor from their hands.

What we put in the collection basket represents our offering, that is, what we give to God for Mass (the bread, wine, candles, etc. that the parish buys for the celebration), what we give for the sustenance of the community and the maintenance of the parish, and what we donate to help the poor and the less fortunate.

If you have never thought of the offertory in this way, think about including your spiritual offering along with what you put in the basket. It’s one of the best ways to join your prayers to those of the priest.

For this reason, the priest insists that it is a common offering, of all, saying: “Pray brothers and sisters, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God the almighty Father”. And we all answer: “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good, and the good of all His Church.”

Fr. Tarcisio