Collecting Ourselves

At Mass, the people of God gather together as a collection of souls who come as members of Christ’s Body, the Church. Immediately after the Kyrie or the Gloria (if there is one), the prayer called the Collect is prayed by the priest.  The priest addresses the people with “Let us pray.” A brief period of silence ensures when all recognize that they are in God’s presence and bring to mind personal intentions.  In this prayer, the priest, who stands in the person of Christ, collects all of the prayers and intentions of the people and offers them to God.

It is both a prayer of the whole Body gathered together with eyes gazing heavenward and, at the same time, a communication of each member of the Body with a loving and merciful Father.

The Collect varies in tone and content according to the liturgical season. The Collect on feast days reflects the mystery of Christ in the life of the saint celebrated. These prayers, often short but beautiful, help us to contemplate the redeeming love of God poured out in our lives through the Sacrifice of the Mass.

These Collect prayers at Mass are a rich source of Church teaching and an invitation to walk the way of the spiritual life. They are true gems of the liturgy that ideally should be prayed by all individually even before we come to Mass. This helps us to hear the voice of God resounding throughout the Eucharistic celebration.

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Collect is usually addressed to God the Father (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #54) just as the Eucharistic Prayer is also addressed to Him. This makes perfect sense when we remember that that Sacrifice of Christ on the altar is offered to God the Father.

The Collect is always a tribute to the Most Holy Trinity. The ending of the prayer is a formula that is almost always the same but may vary slightly. Most often it prays, “Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.”  This statement, which is so familiar to us, is a treasure trove of truth and source for contemplation. It proclaims boldly and beautifully that the Persons of the Holy Trinity are in essence One while being distinct one from the other. Their love for us is manifested in the plan of redemption that has been poured out upon us and is made present in the Mass.

So remember, do not let the Collect at Mass be a “drive-by experience” in which we are responding “Amen” to a prayer we have not even comprehended or marveled at. May it be for us a source of inspiration and a great assistance in entering into the Liturgy of the Mass! May the praying of the Collect at Mass bring together all of our intentions and needs so that we may be united in our praise of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!


Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh