offertory

offertory [Lat.,=offering], in the Roman Catholic Mass and in derived liturgical forms, the preparation of bread and wine on the altar and their formal offering to God. It takes place after the gospel and the creed and before the preface. A short psalm verse from Scriptures is appointed to be said or sung at the beginning; it varies from day to day. This is called the offertory verse. From ancient times it has been customary to collect the alms of the worshipers about the time of the offertory, hence the term has been transferred to the collection taken up in services in Protestant churches and to the music played or sung during the collection. The choice of this selection is usually left to the musicians of the church, and in many Protestant churches the offertory is the choir's principal musical selection in the service.

Offertory. In the Christian eucharist the worshippers’ offering of the bread and wine to be consecrated; also of gifts, especially of money.

offertory (Fr. offertoire; Lat. offertorium). The Offertory of the Mass consists of an Antiphon, a part of the Proper of the Mass, sung just after the Credo, while the priest is preparing the bread and wine and offering them upon the altar. The plainsong setting is generally insufficient to occupy the time, so a motet or org. voluntary may be interpolated.