Gift preparation
The preparation of the gifts - also the preparation of the sacrifice or earlier sacrifice - is the part of the holy mass in the Roman rite , which, after the divine service, introduces the Eucharistic celebration and leads to the Eucharistic prayer . The preparation of gifts is also provided as a possibility in the agenda of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church and is practiced in many parishes.
During the preparation of the gifts, bread ( hosts ) and wine are offered as offerings, the place of the liturgical event changes from the priest's seat and ambo (liturgical service) to the altar (Eucharistic celebration).
Elements of the preparation of gifts
When the altar is being prepared , the corporal , the chalice with palla and purificatory and the missal are brought to the altar.
The hosts and the pots with wine and water are solemnly brought to the altar in a procession of gifts . The believers show their participation through a gift; this can be done either by representatives of the community who bring bread and wine for the Eucharist, or by other gifts that are intended for the needs of the poor and the church are brought into the sanctuary (e.g. as a collection ). The bringing of the gifts is usually accompanied by a chant ( offertory ) or instrumental.
In the preparation of the gifts , the priest first receives the bread and says the following prayer:
“Blessed are you, Lord our God, Creator of the world. You give us bread, the fruit of the earth and human labor. We bring this bread before your face so that it may become the bread of life for us. "
The church can answer:
"Blessed are you forever, Lord our God."
Then the priest takes the wine, mixes it with a little water, puts the prepared chalice down on the altar and says:
“Blessed are you, Lord our God, Creator of the world. You give us the wine, the fruit of the vine and human labor. We bring this cup before your face so that it may become the cup of salvation for us. "
The congregation replies:
"Blessed are you forever, Lord our God."
In solemn worship the gifts can with incense incenses are then the celebrant and the congregation. Then the priest washes his hands and prays: ( Ps 51,4 EU )
"Lord, wash off my guilt, make me clean of my sins."
The invitation to the gift prayer is in one of the forms provided:
"Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may please God the Almighty Father."
Answer:
"The Lord accept the sacrifice from your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for a blessing for us and all of his holy Church."
The congregation answers the final prayer for gifts that the priest says
"Amen."
Interpretations of symbolism
The bringing about of the gifts and the prayers are understood as thanksgiving and praise to the Creator and identified with the "act of Christ himself, who took bread and the cup at the Last Supper".
Historically, an action that prepares the prayer has developed into an element of the mass that leads to it. In addition to bringing the gifts of bread and wine to the altar, the offering of the whole community was practiced on Sundays and certain feast days until modern times ; A monetary sacrifice replaced the usual donation of natural produce in the old church to support the poor. This sacrifice is represented today by collecting the collections .
With the liturgical reform as a result of the Second Vatican Council , the focus was again shifted from the “sacrifice” to the “preparation of the gifts” (Praeparatio donorum) and “the prayers accompanying the offering of bread and wine are now praising (doubling a theme of the prayer!) based on Jewish models ( berakot ) God for the fruits of the earth and human labor ”. In addition, the short texts after laying down the gifts and washing hands and the medieval apology (Suscipe, sancte Pater) have been omitted.
The mixing of wine and water in the preparation of the gifts is interpreted as a sign of the two natures in Jesus Christ, the divine and the human nature, and the participation of men in the divinity of Christ. The priest or deacon speaks in silence as he pours some water into the wine as he prepares the gifts:
"Through the mystery of this water and wine, let us share in the divinity of him who condescended to accept our human nature, Jesus Christ."
Cyprian saw the mixture as a symbol of the connection between Christ and the Church:
“When the wine in the chalice is mixed with the water, the people are joined to Christ. If anyone offers only wine, the blood of Christ is without us; if he only offers water, the people are without Christ. "
The preparation of gifts in the old Catholic liturgy
The “preparation of the gifts” is one of the most clearly linguistically and theologically changed parts of the Eucharistic celebration in the Old Catholic Church in Germany as a result of the liturgical reform . Until then, the opening part of the “Mass of the Believers” - in contrast to the “ Catechumen Mass ” ( literal service ) was called the preparation of sacrifices .
In the corresponding accompanying prayers, the idea of self-sacrifice is particularly expressed - in contrast to the Roman Catholic understanding of the sacrifice of the Mass as a repetition of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
The preparation of the sacrifice (offertory) according to the altar book from 1959
In the First Order of Holy Mass :
“ While the hymn for“ making sacrifices ”is sung, the subdeacon brings the offerings from his own table to the altar in solemn high offices . Here the deacon receives them and presents them to the priest. Otherwise the priest covers the chalice and places it a little on the epistle side . Then he places the host with the paten on the corporal , pours wine into the chalice and mixes it with water. Then the priest lifts the chalice and the paten a little and says:
O God, Heavenly Father, giver of all good gifts, to
whom you have given us bread for our daily nourishment and wine, that he may please the heart of man :
By virtue of the example and the instruction of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
we put these precious gifts of your kindness on the altar and keep them ready for the holy sacrificial meal.
In them we sacrifice ourselves to you and your whole world with its weal and woe.
Take our humble hearts and look pityingly at all of your creation, which sighs and struggles for you.
Come then, who animate and sanctify everything, almighty and eternal God, and bless + the sacrifice that is prepared for your holy name.
Pray, beloved, that our sacrifice may please the Father Almighty God.
A. So be it for the honor of his name and for the salvation of the world.
P .: Amen. "
There are two variants to choose from in the second order of Holy Mass :
“ The singing for the preparation of sacrifices accompanies the congregation's sacrifice or the collection of gifts for the church. The cantor sings the first verse, which everyone repeats, then the next verse, whereupon the first verse is repeated, etc. If there is no singing, these verses should be spoken or recited on one note. Then follows a time or sacrifice preparation song.
- - - A - - -
While the hymn for "making sacrifices" is sung, the subdeacon brings the offerings from his own table to the altar in solemn high offices. Here the deacon receives them and presents them to the priest. Otherwise the priest covers the chalice and places it a little on the epistle side.
At the elevation of the paten with the bread, the priest says:
Holy Father, Almighty, Eternal God, accept this bread with grace, which we lay down here for your entire Church.
He draws a cross with the paten and places the host on the corporal
A .: Amen.
To the mixing of wine and water, the priest says:
God, you have raised people to wonderful dignity and created even more wonderful things. Grant us through the mysterious meaning of this + water and wine,
in masses for the dead the water is not blessed so
that we enter into the community of the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has honored himself to partake in our humanity.
A: Amen.
To raise the cup, priest and deacon speak together in solemn high offices, otherwise the priest alone:
Lord, we implore your goodness, take this cup and let our gift be for the healing of us and the whole world.
He draws a cross with the chalice, places it on the corporal and covers it with the palle
A .: Amen.
The priest speaks with folded hands, bowing deeply: In a
spirit of humility and with contrite hearts, we ask you: Let us be accepted by you and let our gifts be pleasing to your face today, Lord and God!
If special gifts are donated in a sacrificial passage, they are blessed here, then the priest says:
We ask you through Christ our Lord, through Him you always create these gifts, sanctify + them, breathe life into them, bless + and give it to us.
When the offerings and the altar are
incense , the following prayers are said: To put in the incense
The Lord bless + this incense and accept it as a lovely fragrance!
While smoking the offerings he draws signs of the cross with the censer over the offerings,
Lord, this incense, blessed by you +, ascend + to you and on us + come your mercy!
First the priest smokes the altar cross and then the whole altar, which - if it is free - is walked around three times.
While smoking the altar:
Lord, like the scent of incense my prayer ascends to you! Let the lifting of my hands be like the smoke offering in the evening!
When the priest returns the censer he says:
The Lord kindles in us His goodness and the flame of eternal love. Amen.
During the smoking process, the congregation or the choir can also sing a festive song.
- - - B - - -
To raise the paten with the bread
God, Father in Heaven, giver of all good gifts, you give us the bread for our daily nourishment, (which was scattered over the earth and has now become a loaf: we lay it down in a holy place and ask you to unite your holy church and bring it together from the ends of the earth to your kingdom).
To mix wine and water
You give us the wine that it may please the heart + of man. (As blood and water flowed from the side of Christ, so too do we mix wine and water, that you may like it for the salvation of our souls.)
To lift up the chalice
We also place this gift of your kind hands on your altar and hold it ready for the holy sacrificial meal.
The priest bowed deeply:
In these gifts we offer ourselves to you. Take to our humble hearts and let what we have prepared of your gifts for the sacrificial celebration be well pleasing to you.
A: Amen. When
washing hands, the priest says quietly:
In innocence I wash my hands, Lord, and walk around your altar. I will loudly proclaim your praise and praise all your miracles. Lord, I love the decoration of your house and the place where the tent of your glory is.
After washing the hands, which takes place on the epistle side, the priest returns to the center, kisses the altar and turns to the congregation with outspread hands and says:
Pray, beloved, that our offering may be pleasing to God, the Almighty Father!
A. So be it for the honor of his name and for the salvation of the whole Church!
P .: Amen.
Prayer over the offerings (Secreta)
The priest holds out his hands over the offerings and says the prayer recorded for the day in question without any further request for prayer. At the end of the prayer the priest folds his hands, then puts them on the altar. "
The preparation of the gifts according to the 2006 Eucharist
In addition to avoiding any sacrifice terms as well as anticipating making statements, the numerous can regulations are particularly noticeable.
The following are therefore optional:
- mixing the wine with water
- washing hands
- the backing song
- the accompanying prayers
- the versicle
- the prayer over the gifts
“ D [deacon] prepares the altar while P [priest] remains at the priest's seat.
If no D is present, P takes on all of the following services himself.
On the altar are placed: corporals, chalice cloth and altar book. Then a chalice is placed on the altar. D receives the gifts for the Eucharist from the community. The bowl with the bread is placed on the corporal. Wine is poured into the chalice, which can be mixed with a little water. If more Eucharistic wine should be required for communion, it is placed in a carafe on the corporal. Then P goes to the altar.
If incense is used, acolytes will now bring the censer and boat. P inserts, incenses the gifts and walks around the altar, possibly with D. The church can also be incensated.
Then P can wash his hands.
A church song or psalm can be sung to prepare the gifts. You can also keep quiet or play music.
If there is no singing, P can accompany the symbolic actions of the preparation of the gifts with the following prayers:
To the mixing of water and wine:
As this water combines with the wine, the cup of the Lord allows us to partake in the deity of Christ, who accepted our human nature Has.
For the provision of the bread (with P raising the paten slightly):
Blessed are you, Lord our God, creator of the world.
You give us bread, the fruit of the earth and human labor.
We bring this bread before your face that it may become the bread of life for us.
Blessed are you forever, Lord our God.
Regarding the provision of the wine (whereby P lifts up the full goblet slightly):
Blessed are you, Lord our God, creator of the world.
You give us the wine, the fruit of the vine and human labor.
We bring this cup before your face that it may become a cup of salvation for us.
Blessed are you forever, Lord our God.
Then, with folded hands and a slight bow towards the altar:
Lord our God, in a spirit of humility and penance we ask you: make ourselves a gift that you will like.
On washing hands:
Lord, wash off my guilt, cleanse me from my sins.
Then, to the church:
P Pray, brothers and sisters, that our gifts may be accepted by God the Almighty Father!
A For his honor and for the salvation of the world.
or
P All things come from you.
A From what is yours we bring our gifts.
or
P let's pray!
Silent
P spreads her hands and sings or says the prayer.
A Amen. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ KKK No. 1333 .
- ↑ KKK No. 1350 .
- ^ A b Hans Bernhard Meyer: Eucharist: History, Theology, Pastoral. Regensburg: Pustet 1989, ISBN 3-7917-1200-4 , p. 342.
- ^ Secretariat of the German Bishops' Conference: Missale Romanum. Editio typica tertia 2002, Basic Order of the Roman Missal Book, preliminary publication for the German Missal Book (3rd edition) (PDF; 545 kB); Working Aids No. 215; Bonn 2007; 142.178.
- ↑ PL 4, 384, quoted in: Aimé-Georges Martimort (ed.): Handbuch der Liturgiewwissenschaft. Vol. I, Herder Verlag, Freiburg / Basel / Vienna 1963, p. 388.
- ↑ Altar book for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Diocese of Old Catholics in Germany, ed. on behalf of the bishop by the Liturgical Commission, Bonn 1959, page 86
- ↑ Altar book for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Diocese of Old Catholics in Germany, ed. on behalf of the bishop by the Liturgical Commission, Bonn 1959, pages 100-103
- ↑ The celebration of the Eucharist in the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics . Prepared for use in worship services by the Liturgical Commission and published by the Bishop and Synodal Representation, Bonn: Alt-Katholischer Bistumsverlag 2006, pages 193–195.
literature
- General Introduction to Missal Nos. 48–53; 100-107. Online resource
- Hans Bernhard Meyer: Eucharist: History, Theology, Pastoral. Regensburg: Pustet 1989, ISBN 3-7917-1200-4 (Church service, vol. 4), p. 331 (literature); 341-344; (historical aspects: 178; 197; 218).
- Anne-Marie Petitjean: De L'offertoire à la preparation des dons. La genese et l'histoire d'une reforme . Aschendorff, Münster 2015, ISBN 978-3-402-11269-4 (French).
Web links
- eucharist-online: detailed explanation of developments in the history of liturgy and theological significance of the ritual elements of the preparation of gifts
- Carrying the world to the altar in bread and wine (explanations on the preparation of gifts, Liturgical Institute of German-speaking Switzerland)