We now turn our focus to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the second major part of the Mass, beginning with the Preparation of the Gifts. During this time, gifts are collected from the assembly to support the ministry of the parish and its outreach to the poor. Adults offer their financial contributions and children bring in food for the food pantry to be distributed to families in need. These are collected and presented along with the bread and wine to be offered up to God as our sacrifice – a gift of our very selves to the Lord. As the altar is prepared with the vessels needed for Mass with the help of our Altar Servers, the priest first lifts up the bread to be offered praying an ancient prayer of praise to God for this gift which will become Christ’s Body. Then, preparing the main chalice with wine and a little water (symbolizing Christ’s dual nature as both divine and human), the priest lifts up the chalice to God in yet another ancient prayer of praise for the wine which will become Christ’s Blood. Bowing, the priest then silently prays a prayer of humility for our offering: “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.” This is followed by the priest washing his hands as a purification gesture before offering up the sacrifice of bread and wine. This practice likely came from a very practical need for the priest to wash his hands in more ancient times when the offerings of the people were more organic and earthy (farm produce, etc.). Finally, having prepared the altar for the Eucharistic sacrifice, the priest invites those assembled to pray that “my sacrifice and yours” may be acceptable to God. This should remind us that what is offered on the altar is not just the priest’s offering, but from all the people. The assembly then responds in affirmation: “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands…”