I think the offertory is a much neglected part of the Mass. The confusion of the term offertory with what ought to be called the “collection” is just a sign of the neglect.
In the Episcopal Church, instead of prescribed offertory propers the celebrant is presented with an choice. My favorite was, “I beseech you brethren to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Now that I’m a Catholic, I haven’t heard much teaching on this part/aspect of the Mass, so I’m delighted to read Fr. Cantalamessa’s thoughts. As members of the body we are participants in the oblation. In the breaking of the bread and the pouring out of wine, we are broken and poured out, because we are in Christ.
Or so it has seemed to me for a long time, longer than I’ve been Catholic.
Written by the late Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen...
I give myself to God.
Here is my body. Take it.
Here is my blood. Take it.
Here is my Soul, my Will, my Energy, my Strength,
My Property, my Wealth - all that I have. It is Yours.
Take it! Offer it! Offer it with Thyself to the Heavenly Father
In order that He, looking down on this Great Sacrifice,
May see only Thee, His Beloved Son, in Whom He is well pleased.
Transmute the poor bread of my life into Thy Divine Life;
Thrill the wine of my wasted Life into Thy Divine Spirit;
Unite my broken Heart with Thy Heart;
Change my Cross into a Crucifix.
Let not my Abandonment, and my Sorrow, and my Bereavement go to waste.
Gather up the fragments,
And as the drop of water is absorbed by the Wine at the Offertory of the Mass,
Let my life be absorbed in Thee;
Let my little cross be entwined with Thy Great Cross,
so that I may purchase the Joys of Everlasting Happiness in union with Thee.
littlegoldcross.gif (962 bytes) Consecrate these Trials of my life which would go unrewarded unless united with Thee;
Transubstantiate me so that like bread which is now Thy Body,
And wine which is now Thy Blood, I too may be wholly Thee.
I care not if the Species remain, or that, like the bread and the wine,
I seem to all earthly eyes the same as before.
My Station in Life, my Routine Duties, my Work, my Family -
All these are but the Species of my life which may remain unchanged;
But the Substance of my life, my Soul, my Mind, my Will, my Heart -
Transubstantiate them, transform them wholly into Thy service,
So that through me all may know how sweet is the Love of Christ.
Amen
** The confusion of the term offertory with what ought to be called the “collection” is just a sign of the neglect.**
So true.