One of the main protocol acts that take place during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is precisely the presentation of the offerings for the mass Bread and Wine. It is one of the most important and characteristic moments within the mass, where parishioners can open their hearts and receive more of God's love.
Offerings for mass bread and wine
The offerings for the Bread and Wine mass have become very important in recent times. The acts begin with a prayer by the priest, and through it an allusion is made to the meaning of the Bread and Wine for the life of the believer.
The priest is responsible for leading this ceremony. He invites the rest of the believers present at mass to place themselves in a position of meditation. The faithful take advantage of this moment to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and how He gave his body for the salvation and eternal life of humanity.
Although many congregations have tried to keep this type of religious acts in force, it is also true that in some parts of the world the offerings for the Bread and Wine mass have lost importance and have even been distorted within the celebration of the Holy Mass. .
The General Order of the Roman Missal, a norm imposed by the Catholic Church, establishes the way in which the offerings for the Bread and Wine Mass must be carried out. According to the statutes, once the universal prayer is over, the priest invites those present to sit down, and the offertory is told.
Immediately afterwards, the presentation of the bread and wine is carried out by the priest or the person in charge of leading the mass. A call is made to each of those present to actively participate in the development of the event, taking advantage of the occasion, and ask for their needs and those of the holy church.
The protocol acts begin with the song of the offertory and from there it continues its development with the intervention of the faithful believers, who are in charge of bringing some gifts with which they can help to solve the needs of the most vulnerable, as well as of the community itself. congregation.
Then the priest prays over the offerings for the Mass, bread and wine, highlighting it as the only offering of true value within the celebration of the Mass. Immediately after having consecrated these foods, they go from being common to becoming foods with spiritual meaning. The bread and wine allude to the sacrifice of Jesus, who gave up his body (bread) and shed his blood (wine) to give us eternal life.
Offering of bread and wine according to the Pope
The highest authority of the Catholic Church, that is, Pope Francis, is currently responsible for presiding over the so-called catechesis. Let us remember that this is an activity for religious purposes that takes place every Wednesday and is attended by thousands of believers. This activity takes place after Mass.
Pope Francis has explained that it is through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist that the Church keeps alive the Sacrifice of the new covenant that was sealed after the death of Jesus on the Cross. The Holy Pontiff assures that this sacrifice on the part of Jesus is the greatest example of obedience and love.
This reminder was arranged within the structure of the Eucharistic Ceremony, at the request of the Holy Church. This is how the sacrifice of Jesus and what He did for humanity are always remembered. Through this act it is also sought to pay tribute and gratitude to the vigil moments that Jesus suffered and that are part of the sacred Passion.
Its value and spiritual meaning
The offerings for the mass, bread and wine, also have their value and meaning from the spiritual point of view. It is not a meaningless act, on the contrary, through it we seek to remember what Jesus did when he surrendered to the Cross in favor of humanity and eternal life.
Previously, it was customary for the religious faithful themselves to bring the bread and wine to be consecrated through the mass, as established by tradition in ancient times, however today that has changed a bit.
What has been maintained to this day is the ritual by which the offerings of bread and wine are presented within the celebration of the mass, this is done as gifts, thus maintaining its great value and meaning of a spiritual nature. When they were provided by the faithful, it meant that it was the devout people themselves who placed their offer and deposited it in the hands of the priest.
The offerings for the bread and wine mass also represented the trust of leaving problems in holy hands, since through the offerings they were used as a channel for requests for help from God. The religious would later place them on the altar, or on the Father's table, considered the Solemn center of the Eucharist.
These types of offerings also have another important meaning. They symbolize "the fruit of the earth and the work of man", which is delivered to God for his blessing and glory. They also represent an act of obedience on the part of the faithful to what the word of God says, where they are encouraged to offer the sacrifice of our effort and work to please God.
Prayer over the offerings
Many times believers do not fully understand the high value of the offerings in the mass, they even think that they are little compared to how much they would like to give to God as a sign of gratitude. However, Jesus agrees with what is given to him, without forgetting that for him the most important thing is the heart of each devotee.
It is through the prayer of the offerings for the bread and wine mass that each of the requests for miracles and favors that people have are presented to God. This prayer is presided over by the priest in exchange for the gifts that are offered to him. The Church is used as an intermediary entity.
Offerings of the Mass
Have you ever wondered what are the types of offerings and the ideal way to present them so that they are pleasing to God? As we have mentioned before, the true offerings are those of wine and bread, however it is important to clarify that there are other elements that could serve as offerings before the Father.
It is also worth knowing those offerings that can be kept above the altar, including those of the mass. But beyond these questions, the only certainty is that other elements cannot be added to the offerings for mass, bread and wine, since only these two foods are more than enough.
In the same way, the offerings of wine and bread are the only ones that are placed on the altar since they synthesize all the others. Through them, petitions are presented on the desire to improve their lives that donors feel, and all Christians.
Offerings for mass bread and wine, only exchange
The offerings for the mass, bread and wine, have a high meaning for all those who have believed in Jesus and his sacrifice on the Cross. Through this type of religious acts, God does his work and performs a unique exchange, turning them into the Body and blood of his son Jesus, who gave his life for love of humanity and to give eternal life to all those who have decided to believe in him.
The bread and wine represent the body and blood of Jesus. For that reason, only these two offerings are considered "true offerings," since they clearly reflect Jesus' sacrifice for us.
Appeals for forgiveness
The offerings for the mass, bread and wine, have a high meaning for all those who have believed in Jesus and his sacrifice on the Cross. Through this type of religious acts, God does his work and performs a unique exchange, turning them into the Body and blood of his son Jesus, who gave his life for love of humanity and to give eternal life to all those who have decided to believe in him.
At the end of each request for forgiveness, the faithful must express the strawberry: "Lord, have mercy".
readings of the day
Among the readings of the day are the 1st reading of the gospel, the responsorial psalm and the 2nd reading. In each of them, the priest makes a small reflection at the beginning, seeking to draw the attention of the attendees and their subsequent participation in said readings.
Offerings
The presentation of the offerings for the mass, bread and wine, is done through a simulation of when Jesus prepared the great table at the Last Supper:
- Bread offering: Bread is presented first, which for the faithful will be the bread of God, bread of eternal life, with which our faith is sustained and the spirit is fed
- Wine Offering: After being consecrated, it becomes the blood of Christ, and for the rest of the world, it is the symbol of true love and joy.
- Water Offense: Water is the source of life. That is the meaning that is expressed to us when the water is offered in the middle of the celebration of the Eucharist, bringing as a memory the moment in which we are baptized and are born again in the religion.
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