9. The Offertory Procession

• Among the actions of Mass that might make you wonder “why we do it?” is the procession of the gifts of Bread and Wine.

• This occurs after the priest gives his homily and the Creed and Prayer intentions are offered.

• The Procession is a moment of transition in our celebration of Mass from the Liturgy of the Word (the Bible Readings & Homily) to the Liturgy of the Eucharist (Holy Communion).

Some questions you may have about this part of the Mass are:

1.   In what sense are the bread and wine “gifts?”  Whose gifts are they?

You see…in the early church, Mass was often celebrated in the homes of believers.

• The bread and wine necessary for communion were often brought to the celebration as a “gift” so that the celebration could take place.

• Even when the Mass was celebrated in Church buildings, the offering of the Gifts and the Collection were probably part of the same action.

• Bread and Wine were received by the priest for the Eucharist, but other things were also received for the support of the Church, (money, livestock, produce, and other goods).

The Church we know today is a development from those early days, and some of the things which had a “literal” meaning then now bear a symbolic meaning:

• While no one actually brings the bread and wine from home for the celebration of the Mass/Eucharist, these elements are your gifts because you provide the money by which they are purchased.

• It is very near this time in the Mass that we also collect the money-offering of the people to support the Church.

2.  Why is it necessary to have volunteers present the bread and wine to the priest?  Why isn’t it simply placed near the altar before Mass?

• This is very important and done intentionally, ….you see, the procession and offering of the gifts by volunteers from the congregation symbolize the desire of the people that the priest offer the sacrifice of the Mass on their behalf.  It is not only the priest who is offering the Mass ….everyone present is offering it.

• The procession with gifts symbolizes that we are all participants in the offering of the Mass as the perfect sacrifice to the Almighty Father.  In return for our offering, Jesus becomes really present under the signs of Bread and Wine, (just as he promised in the Gospel).