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'DISCARDED': THE OFFERTORY
While the other deleted items are either isolated or peripheral, the Offertory constitutes a distinct section comprising several prayers situated at the core of the mass. It allows us to see in a concentrated way the criteria applied by the Consilium.
In the early Middle Ages, the Offertory procession bringing the bread and wine for Consecration to the altar was accompanied by a psalm. The prayers were probably added in the tenth and eleventh centuries to make explicit what was happening on the altar. Suitable prayers were available in other Latin liturgies. Meanwhile, the procession fell out of use. Effectively the prayers replaced the procession. Dobszay points out that the loss of the Offertory prayers was not really a disaster, because although they are beautiful, they were they were imported directly into the mass as private prayers of the priest without ever having been said aloud and were neither designed nor intended to be heard.
He also points out that one of the explanations commonly given for the deletion of these prayers, namely their alleged excessive references to sacrifice, cannot have been the determining factor, because it does not feature until the prayer In spiritu humilitatis, which anyway has been retained.
The Offertory was vulnerable on several counts:
● it was, and always had been, a set of silent, private prayers of the priest;
● It was also a ‘late’ addition to the text of the mass from the tenth and eleventh centuries, and so was regarded as a medieval ‘accretion’, according to the prevailing prejudice against the medieval mass.
● Modern Catholic critics objected to these prayers on the grounds that they ’anticipated’ the Canon, and in particular the Consecration, for example, by speaking of the as yet unconsecrated host as if it were already the body of Christ (‘spotless host’). This seems a rather unimaginative and formalistic view to take. Prayers are necessarily linear on the page.
● Scholars claimed that the prayers at this point of the mass are (or rather should be) a rite of preparation, and that the proper place for the offertory is after the consecration.
● Protestant liturgies, whether Lutheran, Anglican or Reformed had all deleted the Offertory prayers, and the quest for common ‘ecumenical’ texts could have played a part.
● Prayers in which the priest speaks in the first person were liable to be deleted, as not in conformity with the teaching of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy on the priesthood.
● The frequent and, it must be admitted, irritating ‘apologies’ by the priest (‘ I, your unworthy servant ‘) were anyway suspect as ‘late’ additions, as they were imported into the Roman mass during the ninth and tenth centuries, and were thus doubly candidates for deletion (see CSL 28).
● References to intercession by the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints were also likely to be deleted for ecumenical reasons: ‘May those whom we are commemorating here on earth deign to plead for us in heaven.’
● These prayers are also rich in ritual, which was reduced in the 1970 mass.
Items in bold illustrate features which probably led to most of this section of the mass being deleted.
Sections in italics were retained as silent prayers of the celebrant in the 1970 mass, all the rest discarded.
At the middle of the altar the priest reads the Offertory verse. The bells are rung once by the server. The priest uncovers the chalice, takes the paten (an oval plate made of precious metal) with the host and raises it saying:
Suscipe, sancte Pater, Accept, Holy Father,
omnipotens aeterne Deus, hanc Almighty and eternal God, this
immaculatam hostiam, quam ego spotless victim, which I, your
indignus famulus tuus offero unworthy servant, offer to You,
tibi, Deo meo vivo et vero, pro my living and true God,
innumerabilibus peccatis, et for my innumerable sins,
offensionibus, et negligentiis offences and negligences; and
meis, et pro omnibus for all here present and
circumstantibus, sed et pro likewise for all faithful
omnibus fidelibus Christianis Christians living and dead,
vivis atque defunctis: ut mihi, that it may profit me and them
et illis proficiat ad salutem for salvation, unto life
in vitam aeternam. Amen. everlasting. Amen.
P. Deus, qui humanae O God, + who wondrously
substantiae dignitatem established the diginity of
mirabiliter condidisti, et human nature, and still more
mirabilius reformasti: da nobis wondrously restored it, grant
per hujus aquae et vini that by the mystery of this
mysterium, ejus divinitatis esse water and wine, we may be made
consortes, qui humanitatis sharers in His divinity, who
nostrae fieri dignatus est deigned to share in
particeps*, Jesus Christus our humanity,* Jesus Christ, your
Filius tuus Dominus noster: Qui Son, our Lord: who lives and
tecum vivit et regnat in reigns with you in the unity of
unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: the Holy Spirit, God,
per omnia saecula saeculorum. for ever and ever. Amen.
Amen.
*Section in italics preserved in 1970 mass.
Offerimus tibi, Domine, We offer you, O Lord, the
calicem salutaris tuam chalice of salvation, humbly
deprecantes clementiam: ut in begging your mercy: that it
conspectu divinae majestatis may arise in the sight of Your
tuae, pro nostra et totius divine Majesty, with a pleasing
mundi salute com odore fragrance, for our salvation
suavitatis ascendat. Amen. and for that of the whole
world. Amen.
In spiritu humilitatis, et In a spirit of humility and
in animo contrito suscipiamur a with a contrite heart may we be
te, Domine, et sic fiat received by you, O Lord; and
sacrificum nostrum in conspectu may our sacrifice today be so
tuo hodie, ut placeat tibi, carried out in your sight, that it
Domine Deus. * may please you, O Lord God.*
P. Veni, Sanctificator Come, O Sanctifier, Almighty
omnipotens aeterne Deus: et and Eternal God, and bless, +
benedic hoc sacrificum, tuo this sacrifice prepared for
sancto nomini praeparatum. your holy Name.
In sung masses, the celebrant blesses the incense. He censes the offerings, and the altar, then returns the thurible to the server. The celebrant, the servers, and the people are censed.
The celebrant washes his fingers, saying these verses of Psalm 25:
P: Lavabo inter innocentes I will wash my hands among the
manus meas: et circumdabo innocent; and will compass Your
altare tuum, Domine. Ut audiam altar, O Lord: That I may hear the
vocem laudis: et enarrem voice of your praise: and tell of
universa mirabila tua. Domine, all your wondrous works. I have
dilexi decorem domus tuae: et loved, O Lord, the beauty of your
locum habitationis gloriae house; and the place where your
tuae. Ne perdas cum impiis, glory dwells. Take not away my
Deus animam meam: et cum viris soul, O God, with the wicked: nor my
sanguinum vitam meam: in quorum life with men of blood: In whose hands
manibus iniquitates sunt: are iniquities: their right hand is
dextera eorum repleta est filled with gifts. But as for me,
uneribus. Ego autem in I have walked in my innocence:
innocentia mea ingressus sum: redeem me, and have mercy on me.
redime me, et miserere mei. My foot has stood on the right path;
Pes meus stetit in directo: in in the assemblies I will bless
ecclesiis benedicam te, Domine. you, O Lord.
Gloria Patri... etc, Glory be to the Father ... etc
Bowing at the middle of the altar, the celebrant prays:
P: Suscipe, sancta Trinitas, Accept, O Holy Trinity,
hanc oblationem, quam tibi this offering which we
offerimus ob memoriam make to you in remembrance of
passionis, resurrectionis, et the passion, resurrection, and
ascensionis Jesu Christi Domini ascension of Jesus Christ Our
nostri: et in honorem beatae Lord; and in honour of blessed
Mariae semper Virginis, et Mary, ever Virgin, Blessed John
beati Joannis Baptistae, et the Baptist, the Holy Apostles
sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Peter and Paul, of these
Pauli, et istorum, et omnium [whose relics are in
Sanctorum: ut illis proficiat the Altar] and all the
ad honorem, nobis autem ad Saints; that it may profit
salutem: et illi pro nobis their honour, and our
intercedere dignentur in salvation; and may they deign
caelis, quorum memoriam agimus to intercede in heaven for us
in terris. Per eumdem Christum who honour their memory on
Dominum nostrum. Amen. earth. Through the same Christ
our Lord. Amen.