Bread

Those gathered at the altar represent all of humanity and, on its behalf, offer praise to God. Acknowledging that He is the Lord and Master of the whole world, that He is the Giver of life and all that is necessary for our life. The symbol of God’s kindness and goodness is bread. This bread—the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands—we offer as a sacrifice to the Heavenly Father.

On behalf of all people who labor so that the earth yields bread, and on behalf of all those who will partake of it, we thank God. We also pray to Him that He may transform this particle of our labors, this part of our life, into the nourishment necessary for spiritual life.

Wine

The meaning of offering wine as a sacrifice is the same as that of offering bread: we worship God for His goodness. The wine is in the chalice, and the chalice in Christian tradition is a symbol of suffering, pain, and misfortune.

We raise to God the chalice overflowing with sufferings—our own, those of our loved ones, and of all people. We ask that the Lord God may transform it, so that suffering may become for us a source of strength, just as the sufferings of Christ were and are a source of strength for the whole world.

At holy Masses, the bread, which during the Eucharist becomes the Body of Christ, and the wine, which becomes the Blood, are brought to the altar by the faithful in a solemn procession.

Bread is a symbol of life. The chalice is a symbol of suffering, pain, and death. Two simple signs contain the essence of our mortal life. During the procession with gifts, all the people sing a hymn intended for the moment of the sacrifice.