Bring Your Gifts to the Altar

In the Catholic Mass (we refer to our worship services as the "Mass"), we prepare for Communion by bringing the bread and wine forward to God, and offering prayers and song in preparation for the consecration of the gifts into the bread and body of Christ.

Pop quiz! Catholics: where were your minds the last time the offertory gifts were brought forward to the altar?  Wondering if you had enough milk for lunch?  Wondering how Betty lost all that weight? Perhaps reflecting on our humble human gathering and offering to God, with a prayer that He accept these gifts, sanctify them, change them into the Body and Blood of his Son, and give us in return the grace of Communion?

This week Cyndi and Deacon Tim give you some food for thought about the real meaning of the Offertory in the Catholic Mass.

 

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Comments

[Laura]

When the gifts were being brought up I was wondering if my 5 year old would ever be as well behaved as the nice boy bringing up the gifts with his family. A preschooler in the pew does not lead to much contemplative thought during the Mass! That's why I listen to your podcast, and Fr. Barron's when I have less distractions and can actually think.

[Snafu]

I hear you, Laura! We often are in the midst of uttering comments to our kids, such as:

*Stop pulling your sister's hair
*What is all that giggling about?
*You brought THAT to Mass? Give it to me.
*Hush up and listen, this is important!

As a young parent, after a particularly "interesting" Mass with our young'uns, a veteran parent leaned over at the close of Mass and said "Don't worry, you get a special blessing for bringing your kids to Mass". Never forgot that. Hang in there, you're getting special blessings.

[Ebeth Weidner]

Cindi and Deacon Tim, somehow I got disconnected from your email alerts, glad I checked you out about the "bringing up the gifts, which will be my next offering on, acatholicmumclimbingthepillars and
In layman's terms.

Bless you both!!! you guys are a true gift to us!!

Ebeth

[Air Jordans]

The sun shine fiercely.