Offertory Antiphons

Recent Vatican documents have served as reminders for liturgical musicians to look back at rubrics (particularly the GIRM 2002) to see just what we should be doing. The realization strikes quite profoundly, that at many places during the Mass, we have come far afield of what the Church expects of us. Perhaps this was due to overzealous liturgists and musicians of the late 20th century who were more concerned with promoting an agenda and their own tawdry pieces than researching what music might be closer to the rubrical desires.

Wise musicians are now examining the Church's intent for the processional moments in the Mass: Entrance, Offertory, Communion. They are discovering a fresh, new treasury of antiphons, ready-made, and linked to each celebration of the liturgical year. These antiphons are found (in Latin) in the Graduale Romanum, available from CanticaNOVA Publications. Further, the Entrance antiphon and the Communion antiphon are translated into English and appear in the Sacramentary, the large book used at the chair and at the altar. These also appear in CNP's Liturgical Planning Pages.

Unfortunately, and I'm not sure why, the Offertory antiphons were never translated into English, although they can be found in Latin in the Graduale Romanum. For those musicians who wish to explore the use of the proper Offertory antiphon, we offer here a list of these antiphons. We chose to give only the scripture citation (when the antiphon is scriptural) due to licensing fees that occur with the reprinting of material from the New American Bible. While the NAB is the officially approved translation for liturgy in the U.S., other countries have different approved Biblical translations. By noting the citations below and using your "approved-for-liturgy" Bible, you can construct an "approved" translation of the Offertory antiphons.

Some non-scriptural texts have been given in full below, with an approved translation. Any non-official translations appear in italics.

• Graduale Romanum, abbreviated GR
• Graduale Simplex, abbreviated GS

Example:

To you I lift up my soul, O Lord, my God. In you I trust; let me not be put to shame, let not my enemies exult over me.
No one who waits for you shall be put to shame. [Psalm 25:1-3]

1. To you I lift up my soul, O Lord, my God... [vs 1b]
2. Remember that your compassion, O Lord... [vs 6]
3. All the paths of the Lord... [vs 10]
4. Preserve my lofe, and rescue me... [vs 20]
5. Redeem Israel, O God... [vs 22]

Proper Offertory Antiphons

GR: Psalm 25:1-3

GS: Psalm 25:3a [Missa I per Adventus]

• verses -  Psalm 25:1b / 6 / 10 / 20 / 22

GR: Psalm 85:7-8

GR: Psalm 85:2-3a

GR: Luke 1:28,42

GS: Luke 1:28,42 [Missa II per Adventus]

• verses -  Psalm 25:1-2 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 14

GR: Psalm 24:7

GR: Psalm 96:11a,13a

GS: Psalm 96:11a,13a

• verses -  Psalm 96:1 / 2 / 3 / 8b-9a / 13b

GR: Psalm 93:1c-2a

GR: Psalm 89:12,15a

GR: Psalm 31:15-16a

GS: Luke 2:33

• verses -  Psalm 40:1 / 7b-8a / 8b-9a / 9b / 17

GR: Happy are you indeed, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise; for Christ our God, the sun of justice, has risen from you.

GS: Luke 1:28,42

• verses -  Psalm 85:2 / 11 / 12 / 13

GR: Psalm 72:10-11

GS: Psalm 72:10

• verses -  Psalm 72:7 / 8 / 9 / 15 / 16

GR: Psalm 118:26,27a

GS: Isaiah 49:6b

• verses -  Psalm 47:2 / 7 / 8 / 9

GR: Psalm 30:2-3

GS: Psalm 30:11b

• verses -  Psalm 30:2 / 3 / 10b / 11

GR: Psalm 91:4

GS: Matthew 6:3

• verses -  Psalm 51:3a / 3b / 4 / 5

GR: Psalm 119:47-48

GS: Mark 9:5

• verses -  Psalm 133:1 / 2a / 2b / 3b

GR: Psalm 19:9,11b,12

GS: Isaiah 58:7

• verses -  Psalm 51:3a / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14

GR: Psalm 135:3,6a

GS: Psalm 92:1a

• verses -  Psalm 92:3 / 5 / 6 / 13

GR: Psalm 119:7a,10a,17,25b

GS: Psalm 43:1a

• verses -  Psalm 22:2 / 3 / 21 / 22

GR: Psalm 69:21-22

GS: Psalm 43:1a

• verses -  Psalm 22:2 / 3 / 21 / 22

GR: Hymn: O Redemptor

GS: Hymn: O Redemptor

GR: Hymn: Ubi caritas

GS: Hymn: Ubi caritas

GR: Psalm 118:16-17

GS: Psalm 118:16

• verses -  Psalm 118:21 / 22 / 23 / 27b

GR: Psalm 76:9b-10a

GS: Psalm 76:9b-10a

• verses -  Psalm 76:2 / 3 / 4 / 5-6a

GR: Matthew 28:2b,5a,6a

GR: Psalm 146:1b-2

GR: Psalm 63:2a,5b

GS: Psalm 63:2a,3b [Missa I per T.P.]

• verses -  Psalm 63:2b / 2c-3 / 4 / 5

GR: Psalm 66:1b,2a,16

GS: Psalm 47:2b [Missa II per T.P.]

• verses -  Psalm 47:3 / 4 / 5 / 7

GR: Psalm 66:8,9,20

GR: Psalm 47:6 -or- Acts 1:11

GS: Psalm 47:6

• verses -  Psalm 47:2 / 3 / 7 / 9

GR: Psalm 47:6 -or- Acts 1:11

GR: Psalm 104:30-31a

GR: Psalm 68:29-30

GS: Psalm 68:29-30a

• verses -  Psalm 68:2 / 22 / 25 / 36

GR: Tobit 12:6

GS: Daniel 3:56

• verses -  Daniel 3:57 / 58-59 / 84-85 / 86-87 / Dox

GR: Psalm 78:23-25a -or- Exodus 24:4-5

GS: Psalm 78:25

• verses -  Psalm 84:2-3a / 3b / 4b / 5