Offertory - Liturgical Action

Liturgical Action

In the Roman Rite, the offertory is the first part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The altar is first prepared by placing on it the corporal, purificator, missal and chalice. It is considered praiseworthy for the bread and wine and perhaps other offerings or gifts for the poor or for the Church to be presented by the faithful in a procession to the accompaniment of an offertory chant. The priest then places first the bread and then the wine on the altar while saying the prescribed prayers, after which he may incense them together with the cross and the altar. The priest himself and the people may also be incensed. Then, after washing his hands at the side of the altar, the priest says the Prayer over the Offerings. This was originally the only prayer said at the offertory of the Roman Rite.

There are variations in other rites. For instance, in the Dominican Rite a single prayer is said at the offertory over the bread and wine that have already been prepared on the altar at an earlier part of the Mass.

In the Byzantine Rite, there is a short offertory at the same point as in the Roman Rite, but a more elaborate ceremonial, the Liturgy of Preparation, takes place before the public part of the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.