LITURGY LESSONS: PRAYERS AT THE PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

(Given: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; June 27, 2010)

Last week we talked about the procession with the gifts. Today we learn about some of the prayers said over these gifts. Prior to Vatican Council II there were nine long Latin prayers that the priest said to himself during what was then called The Offertory. These prayers had gradually been added during the Middle Ages. Since the Vatican Council this part of the Mass has been very much simplified.

After we have presented the bread and wine, the priest “raises the bread a little above the altar and prays a formula, modeled on a Jewish table prayer, which blesses God as the creator of the world for the gift of bread.”

The priest or deacon pours wine into the chalice, and then does something which may appear odd. He adds a few drops of water to the wine. Originally this had a very practical purpose. In early centuries wine was very thick and strong. It was common, both in secular and religious usage, to dilute it with a water. This utilitarian action was soon given symbolic meaning.

In the Western Church, which is our tradition, this mingling represented the union of Christ with the faithful; just as wine receives water, so Christ takes us to himself. In the Eastern Church, this mingling of water and wine represented the divine and human natures of Christ. Here is the current prayer which combines both traditions.

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.

Then the priest lifts the chalice a little above the altar and prays, as he did over the bread, that God is the giver of all gifts, and this gift will become our spiritual drink. Our response to both the blessing of the bread and the blessing of the wine is “Blessed be God forever”

He then asks us to pray that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. Notice that he includes himself in asking God’s acceptance of the gifts. Again, we respond with a prayer:

“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.”

This a community prayer and deserves a communal response so be alert.