Editing Catholic Mass (section)

===Part 1: Presentation and Preparation of the Gifts (Offertory) === 

*also called "'''the Offertory'''"
*after the Liturgy of the Word, the Priest invites the faithful to join the sacrifice
*the people may bring to the altar the bread and wine to be consecrated and transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ
**the faithful may "present the Gifts" by processing to the altar with the Bread, Wine and Holy Water and presenting them to the priest who receives them before the altar
**commonly, only the Wine and Holy Water are brought forward
**originally, the bread and wine were offerings from the people (owned or prepared by them, not the church)
**the items to be placed on the altar are: corporal (white cloth to be placed on the altar), purificator (white cloth to be placed over the chalice), Missal (text of the Mass), and chalice (the cup)

* "in the Offertory we give thanks to the Creator for bread and wine... gifts of the Creator" ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/338/ CCC 1333])
** which are reminiscent of Old Covenant sacrifice of bread and wine
**and which provide "a new and definitive meaning" given by Jesus ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/338/ CCC1363])
*we may relate the Offertory to the Christ's "Agony in the Garden" of Gethsemane
**giving ourselves, our wants, our sins, our will to God ("not my will but yours be done", [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/22?42 Lk 22:42])

*in the Preparation, the "Lord's table" (the altar) is made ready for the Lord's Supper (the sacrifice)
**from [https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/338/ CCC 1333]
<blockquote>At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. </blockquote>
*a collection (usually monetary) may be made during the "preparation", which may be carried to the priest who receives it before the altar along with the bread and wine (together with the collection, "the gifts")
**the collection comes from the early Church tradition to bring, in addition to the bread and wine, "gifts to share with those in need" ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/342/ CCC 1351])
**the collection is usually dedicated to specific purposes, such as maintenance of the Parish or for a particular charity
**there are usually two collections
**"ushers" pass through the isles to "collect" the gifts from the people 

==== Preface and Secret Prayers ====
*the priest will then commence the first of his "Eucharistic prayers" as he lifts the bread and wine which will become the body and blood of Christ
*and drops holy water into the wine
**representing the mixing of mortality in the divine life of Christ
**Christ's adoption of his human person for our salvation
**the water and blood poured out from Christ on the crucifix (the piercing of the sword)
*"secret" means "hidden" as in "mysterium" (mystery) and not as if it is a priestly secret
*the secret prayers here and in other parts of the Mass remind the priest of
**the gravity of his position and role
**his inherent unworthiness and coterminous humility
**the need to invoke divine aid to perform his duties

*the priest may say the prayers inaudibly, or, he may speak the first prayer to the people

==== the prayers are to God the Father, from the priest on behalf of the whole Church====
<blockquote>Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.</blockquote>
*to which the people will respond, "Blessed be God for ever"
*the second prayer may also be spoken audibly, and, if so , the people will respond "Blessed be God for ever":

 Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink. 

*the priest then says inaudibly the "secret prayer,"
<blockquote>With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God.”</blockquote>
*he then washes his hands, stating from [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51 Psalm 51]"
<blockquote>Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin</blockquote>