: the eucharistic offering of bread and wine to God before they are consecrated
b
: a verse from a Psalm said or sung at the beginning of the offertory
2
a
: the period of collection and presentation of the offerings of the congregation at public worship
b
: a musical composition played or sung during an offertory
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThere are similar challenges in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., where in-person attendance is roughly a quarter of pre-pandemic levels and offertory revenue is down about 10% after plunging 30% early in the outbreak. David Crary, Star Tribune, 3 Oct. 2020 About 60% of the parish’s offertory transactions come electronically, and 52% of its members give online, the top figures in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, 6 Dec. 2019 Stanley also served as an offertory collector during weekly Mass for many years.courant.com, 17 May 2018
Word History
Etymology
Middle English offertorie, from Medieval Latin offertorium, from Late Latin offerre