Eucharist Parent Material

THE ORDER OF THE MASS L I TURGY OF THE EUCHARI ST PREPARAT ION OF THE GI FTS The bread and wine are carried forward by members of our community and presented to the Priest. These offerings are symbolic of all our gifts. It is appropriate to offer the gift of ourselves, our life’s work and all our activities in our prayers at this time. PREPARAT ION OF THE ALTAR Whilst the offerings are being brought forward, the Ministers assisting the priest prepare the altar by spreading the corporal on the altar cloth, placing the chalice on the corporal and laying the Purifier beside the chalice. The Missal is also opened and placed on the altar ready for the celebrant to proceed with the next part of the Mass. At Mass the altar is the central focus of our meal. The Altar cloth is like the tablecloth. The corporal marks the special place where the sacred vessels, the chalice and the paten are placed. The purifier is used to wipe out the chalice before and after it is used. The paten which holds the larger bread to be used during the mass is also placed on the corporal. PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS After the Priest has offered the gifts of bread and wine together with those things for which we have prayed to God, he invites us to pray that these offerings will be acceptable to God the Almighty Father. We answer: May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands... S H A R E W I T H Y O U R C H I L D DISCUSS with your child the things that could be remembered at this time of the Mass. For example, they could offer the things that happen each day: school, play, life at home, as gifts symbolic of life. These are joined with the gifts of the whole faith community that will soon be offered to God in the Eucharistic Prayer. HAVE A DISCUSSION about setting the table at home for a meal. EXPLAIN the reason for using utensils (knives and forks, etc.), placing salt & pepper shakers on the centre of the table etc. DRAW the similarities between this and preparation for the Celebration at Mass. DISCUSS this section in your child’s resource booklet. L I TURGY OF THE EUCHARI ST We offer our gifts and receive the gift of Jesus in this part of the Mass. On Sundays we begin by bringing the gifts of bread and wine to the priest. Sometimes we sing a hymn while this is happening. Bread and wine recall the Last Supper Jesus shared with His Disciples. They ate bread and drank wine because it was their everyday food. The gifts are food, nourishment necessary for living. So our bread and wine at Mass represent our everyday lives, our everyday selves, the essence of our lives. P A R T T H R E E 15