The Offertory

I've had this post rattling around inside my head for a few weeks now.

Quite awhile ago I read a small booklet on the Mass (I cannot remember the name of the book nor the author just that it was tiny and took me about 20 minutes in Adoration to get through) that made me think differently about the Offetory at Mass.

The time when the gifts are being brought to the Altar and through-out the priest preparing them and saying the prayers over them are FULL of graces. And I didn't realize how very, very important it is to be praying very hard at that moment.

I started to be more aware of what was taking place during this time. In the little booklet the author said how it is at that moment that our Guardian Angels go up to the altar with all of our petitions and intercessions and gifts to give to the Lord.

THAT is what really made me start paying attention. I want my Guardian Angel to take all of my prayers to the altar....and they can't do that unless WE are paying attention and ask them to.

The Offertory isn't a time to be reading the Parish Bulletin; or filling out the check for the basket; this is a time FULL of graces to be received and we need to be paying attention.

I tend to forget EVERYTHING that I want to pray for at that moment though. And God is good too because I've been asking Him to please put in front of me things that need to be prayed for....I am tired of focusing only on MY wants. And He very graciously has been showing me things that I could be praying for.

Except that again I have trouble remembering. So I've begun a new practice. I have an index card that fits perfectly in my Liturgy of the Hours. As I come across people or situations needing prayer I place them on the card. At the Offertory I place "everything on the card" into the hands of my Guardian Angel to carry up to the Altar. This way I don't have to remember every specific person/need.

I've dated the top of the card "May 2008" to start out the new process. I'm thinking I'll have a "Prayer Journal of index cards" some day!