Beginning on Ash Wednesday of 2000 you may notice some changes in the taking up of the
collection, as well as in the Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts. These changes will
enable members of the assembly to see and understand the rite and thus to participate even
more fully in the Eucharistic celebration. They will also bring our Mass into closer
harmony with the rubrics, or official standards for the liturgy.
Immediately following the Intercessions, or after the Profession of Faith if
catechumens and candidates have been dismissed, the collection begins. As the baskets
reach the last pews, vocal or instrumental music begins and the altar is prepared. This
allows us more silent time, and frees us from picking up hymnals while we prepare our
collection. Following the standard set by our bishops, music is to "accompany and
celebrate the communal aspects of the procession."
The altar cloth already in place, servers place a table-sized corporal over the altar
cloth. During Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, on special occasions and at school Masses,
other members of the assembly perform this service. A corporal is a special cloth, in
addition to the altar cloth, used to hold the Eucharistic elements. Our new corporals
follow tradition in covering the top of the altar. On the corporal, servers place the
chalice, the purificator (cloth for purifying the vessels), and the sacramentary (the
large book that contains the Mass prayers).
After the altar is prepared, the priest who is the presider approaches the altar and
the gift-bearers begin their procession. The presenters walk side-by-side, with wine
bearer on the left and bread presenter on the right holding the gifts as high as possible,
so all may see. The person carrying the collection basket walks directly behind them. Upon
reaching the altar area, the wine presenter ascends the steps on the left (south) side of
the altar, the bread presenter on the right (north) side. Both presenters face the center
on reaching the altar. The presenter with the collection basket will place it on the top
step before the altar and return to the pews. This makes it clear that all the gifts come
from the people and are reverently presented by them.
The deacon, or the presider if no deacon is present, takes the bread from that
presenter, then the wine from the other presenter. After the bread and wine are placed on
the altar by the presider, the presenters return to their pews. If the presenters are not
able to ascend the altar steps, the deacon or the presider comes to them. At this time in
the Mass, the presider simply sets the gifts aside from their daily use and prepares them
for our sacred purpose. The presider then washes his hands and calls us all to prayer.
As we become more active participants in this rite – through the giving of gifts,
and the use of our sight, our hearing and our whole bodies – our belief that we
ourselves are truly part of the Eucharist deepens and grows ever stronger.
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