The Offertory
The Procession of the Lamb
The Procession
Priest
Glory and honour, honour and glory, to the All-holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Peace and edification to the one, only, holy, catholic and apostolic Church of God. Amen. Remember, O Lord, those who have offered unto You these oblations, those on whose behalf they have been offered, and those by whom they have been offered; grant them all the heavenly reward.
Deacon
Pray for these holy and precious oblations, our offerings, and those who have offered them. Lord have mercy.
Congregation
Alleluia. This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save us; O Lord, make straight our ways. Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Alleluia. (On Saturdays, Sundays, feasts of the Lord, and all non-fasting days)
Commentary
The Priest holds the Lamb — wrapped in a linen napkin together with a cross — and lifts it over his head. The wrapping signifies the swaddling cloths of the manger and also the shrouds in which Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped the Lord after His death. This also reminds us of St Simeon the Elder, who held the infant Christ in his arms and proclaimed the salvation He was to bring.
Our Christ transcends time, and His presence in the Eucharist is real and transcendent. We commemorate not only the past events of His earthly life but also His second coming — acknowledging that He is beyond time and present with all His life events. The paten represents the manger, the cross, the tomb, the Mount of Beatitudes, and the throne.
The Priest processes once around the altar, preceded by the Deacon holding the cruet of water — symbolic of St John the Forerunner who prepared the way before Christ and bore witness of Him. The Deacon holding the wine follows behind the Priest, showing that through the Blood of Jesus Christ, light came into this world.
The Short Litany
Priest
Remember, O Lord, those who have offered unto You these oblations, those on whose behalf they have been offered, and those by whom they have been offered; grant them all the heavenly reward.
Commentary
Those who brought the gifts are the givers themselves; those on whose behalf they have been brought are either the departed, the sick, the distressed, or those who have asked for prayer; and those by whom they have been brought are the priest, deacon, and congregation in attendance. The heavenly reward is eternal bliss.
“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”— John 12:26