Summary
On February 5, 2026, during a CIEL conference in Rome, Rev. Claude Barthe presented his critical analysis of the traditional Roman Offertory and its replacement with a “Presentation of Gifts” under Pope Paul VI’s liturgical reform. According to Barthe, this decision was significant as it eliminated a complex system of sacrificial prayers that clearly highlighted the meaning of the Eucharistic sacrifice. The primary motivations behind this change were: to revert to a presumed earlier phase of Roman liturgy preceding the development of private priestly prayers between the 8th and 11th centuries, and to diminish excessive “Tridentine” theological emphases on the sacrificial aspect of Mass. Barthe noted that offertory prayers often preceded the Eucharistic prayer redundantly. He countered this with an analysis of liturgical paraliturgies developed in the 20th century, especially among pastoral experiences and youth movements. These practices involved creative processionals of gifts (bread, wine, donations for the poor, symbols of human labor) that prepared for Mass reform. During the Second Vatican Council’s Sacrosanctum Concilium, the council allowed considerable flexibility in revising the Ordo Missae. Despite not explicitly mentioning the abolition of the offertory, it was subsequently removed and replaced with Eucharistic blessings based on Jewish berakhot, focusing on gratitude for creation and human labor. Pope Paul VI’s liturgical reform marked a departure from traditional practices, aligning more closely with earlier forms of Roman worship. Barthe’s presentation highlighted these changes as part of broader efforts to modernize the Mass while maintaining core theological principles.
Key Topics
Claude Barthe, Offertorio, Paolo VI Liturgical Reform
