PILGRIMAGE
In general:





Pilgrimage is a universal activity, ranging from simple physical journeys to responding to calls
from the religious and visiting places of historical or spiritual significance.
Pilgrimage plays a prominent role in both other religions besides Christianity, as well as in
the secular world, with sites of various religious orientation being visited every year, by
religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.
Not only religious sites attract pilgrims
Personal pilgrimages don’t even need a physical journey , the journey is within themselves,
for personal growth, reflection on the journey through life so far.
ALL FORMS OF PILGRIMAGE ARE COMMON IN THEIR ABILITY TO SUPPORT AND TO FOSTER
REFLECTION, RE-EVALUATION AND NEW INSIGTHS IN ONE’S LIFE
In A Bit More Detail:
SECULAR/SOCIAL:



The aim of social and secular pilgrimages can differ from that of faith based pilgrimages
where the objective site is not of any particular religious orientation.
These seek to satisfy the personal desires of the pilgrim, bringing a sense of humbleness and
instant reward to the pilgrim.
Examples of secular/social pilgrimages include sporting grounds, war memorials and others,
eg. Graceland for Elvis, following bands, etc.
FAITH BASED:



In Faith-based pilgrimages, sites are of religious orientation due to either historical or biblical
events, and the journey to this site is either undertaken individually or in groups, eg.
Catholics and WYD, up to 2 million pilgrims.
Upon reaching the site, special rituals, the landscape and the area are sometimes observed
and performed.
The general aim of a faith-based pilgrimage is the reinvigoration of one’s faith, with their
journey symbolising the strength of their faith, to feel the spiritual presence of a holy figure
of historical significance in a religious context.
PERSONAL:

Is based on the inner spirituality, wellbeing and the progress of one’s life, where in the
contemporary world, as well as in religions such as Buddhism, personal pilgrimages are
recommended to followers in order to reinvigorate their faith to achieve, maintain and
promote spiritual solidarity.
Christian Pilgrimage:

The journey to a sacred site is seen as leaving the comfort of their own home and daily
routine, forcing them to learn to rely on God.






From teaching, to be Christian is to rely on Christ and allow Christ to be the only need in life.
By giving up everything, pilgrims realize that Christ is the only thing they need, hence
strengthening their faith.
Pilgrimage is an important part of Christian faith, due to its power as a religious structure
and process, capable of strengthening and reinvigorating the faith of many followers of Jesus
WYD is a prime example of how contemporary Catholics undertake pilgrimages, through
them journeyingto participate in activities and vigils with the Pope, with many other fellow
Catholics.
Holy land pilgrimages are also popular in the contemporary world
All these journeys and locations provide the locations provide the pilgrim with the
opportunity to deepen their faith in Jesus and hence become stronger in faith, making it a
fundamental process of Catholicism.
The events in WYD reflect the quote from Hebrews 11:8-10;
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,
obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.9 By faith he made his
home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac
and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise”
Expression In The Past







Found expression in history through St Paul of Tarsus (Paul the Apostle), and his personal
journey from the Jewish faith to becoming a Christian, through him encountering God and
deciding to abandon his persecution of Christians.
Instead he helped them and entered into their faith, communityand way of life
His story is an example of how Christians in the past have experienced a pilgrimage and how
this has encouraged new insight and perspective in his life
Before Conversion
Co-operated in the stoning of St. Stephen, guarding witnesses whilst Stephen was stoned to
death.
Travelled under instruction of the Jewish high priest to Damascus, in search of Simon Peter,
intending to capture and execute him;
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He
went to the high priest2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if
he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them
as prisoners to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-3)
Conversion
He had a vision of the resurrected Jesus and was temporarily blinded
”Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice
say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.“Now get up and go into the city, and you will
be told what you must do.”(Acts 9:3-7)
Healed by Ananius of Damascus, baptised by Barnabus, barely escapes Damascus.
After Conversion

Three years after, Paul travelled to Jerusalem, changing his name to “Paul”, to coincide with
his claims of being a new man. It was here he met James and Simon Peter, and planned on
how he could live his life now.
 Went with Barnabus from Antioch to Cyprus to spread the word of God, where they were
appraised after healing a blind man.
 Paul’s recorded visits to Jerusalem are five in total, helping the poor during tough times and
famine on a number of occasions, as well as attending councils on whether Christian faith
should be brought to the gentiles as well.
Analysis
 Paul’s pilgrimages, although differing in purpose and intent in some cases, all fostered nece
harw insights in his life and allowed him tom reflect on his life.
 Paul’s conversion demonstrates how pilgrimage can bring about a new perspective to a
person, which the loss and restoration of his sight is extremely symbolic of.
 Jesus revealed the intention of his Church would be for struggling Christians, as “He chose
imperfect people to be leaders of his Church”(Student Resource Textbook).
 It is through these sacrifices, decisions and journeys which Paul made that demonstrates
how St Paul of Tarsus is an example of how Christian pilgrimage found expression in the
past.
Expression of Pilgrimage in the Contemporary Church
 Finds expression through certain structures and models of the Church; such as the Dulles
Model
 The Church as a servant focuses on the active participation of the lay, as well as striving for
justice, the core value of the Church
 Pilgrimage is supported by the Church acting as a community of disciples, encouraging us to
follow in the footsteps of Jesus and face hardships with courage.
 The Church also acts as a Sacrament during Christian Pilgrimage, by providing the Grace of
God to those who embark on a pilgrimage of faith-based intentions.
 The Church acts as a Herald during Christian Pilgrimage, by proclaiming the good news of
Jesus and proclaiming the Gospel
 The Church acts as an institution during Christian pilgrimage by providing events for Pilgrims
such as WYD, which has a structure developed and maintained by the Church.
 The Church acts as a Community, through making visible the reality that the structure of the
Church is a family of believers, bringing people together in peace, happiness and fellowship.
 These aspects of certain models combine to form what’s known as the Pilgrim Church, which
seeks to protect and provide assistance to those undertaking a Christian Pilgrimage.
 “Christians, on pilgrimage toward the heavenly city, should seek and think of these things
which are above. This duty in no way decreases, rather it increases, the importance of their
obligation to work with all men in the building of a more human world” (Gaudium Et Spes57)
 Pilgrim Church acts as a structure which helps Christians to realize and grow in their faith,
which enables them to undergo a proper Christian pilgrimage, fostering personal growth and
spiritual understanding
 “The Church, in the very fulfillment of her own function stimulates and advances human and
civic culture; by her action, also by her liturgy, she leads men toward interior liberty”


(Gaudium Et Spes-58) shows how the contemporary Church recognizes it’s role in supplying
followers with ways of becoming closer to God, mainly through sacraments, vigils and
masses, helping them to achieve deep faith in God through eventually leading them to
realize that Christ is all that one person truly needs
The Church itself is a pilgrim, on a spiritual journey
Priests accompany groups on Christian pilgrimages, sacraments such as the Holy Eucharist
and Reconciliation help to strengthen the pilgrim’s relationship with God.
CONSUMERISM
Consumerism In Relation to “Consuming Religion”
- Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services in
ever greater amounts.
- Developed after the rise of industrialisation, lead to alienation of workers from their work and the
sense of worth which arose from them.
- Feeds corporations in the present day, with the ever present demand for wealth and instant
happiness through material products outweighing the Catholic Church’s teachings on the matter of
consumerism, with the cycle becoming dependent on the consumer’s constant seeking of meaning
and happiness in material goods.
- Catholic perspective -> Freedom is achieved through:




Relating intimately with God
Accept the influence of God in daily life
Develop quality human relationships
Finding the meaning, purpose and direction of their lives
Consumerism is a threat to a person’s freedom
“It is a threat to the freedom of the human person to live accordingly to the higher demands of
love rather than to the lower pull of material desires” (V.Miller)
Whose article “Consuming Religion”, focuses on this issue and the interplay which results
between both society, consumer culture and the Catholic Church.
Paragraph 1
- Miller states that consumer culture reduces all things religious- beliefs, values and symbolsinto mere objects for consumption, rather than value systems which can give direction and
meaning. Meaning:
-that everything is turned into an object in consumerism,
-is linked to emotions and identities in order to invoke desire in the consumer,
-so that they purchase in the pursuit of false happiness or a sense of fulfilment which can only
be satisfied with more purchases for short periods of time.
- As they are turned into objects, their true meaning and the direction they can give diminishes
as they only give an image or part of what they originally were to the consumer.
- People in society are contempt to buy a product due to its promises of happiness and
fulfilment,
- Certain products being related to certain emotions and identities, where people seek to
become someone they are not,
-In the article, Social theorist’s are used; people are “reduced to passive spectators, consumers
of illusions” (Guy DeBord)
- Which means they are not self aware or finding meaning, direction and purpose from God,
meaning that their search for meaning leads them into consumption, which endangers their
personal freedom resultingly.
-Miller discusses how consumerism diminished the small community structure of many areas to
simply groups of individual families.
- “we are defined by the choices we make” (Tyler, FC)
Paragraph 2
-Consumer culture also reduces religious beliefs, values and symbols into objects for
consumption, devoid of direction and meaning
- A valid example of this exhibited in the article is Christmas and how Western culture has
manipulated it in the quest for consumerism.
- Religious aspects of the festival have been removed from their rich Traditional contexts and
are consumed and applied to people’s lives in diverse ways.
- Jesus lived a life of simplicity, and died a criminal’s death
- Consumerism has transformed this into over-eating, drinking and pointless gift giving, under
the illusion that these things will give them happiness and satisfy their desire for meaning.
- Consumerism causes people to be content with taking bits of religion which suit their needs,
rather than adopting whole stories or philosophies and hence, their meanings.
- Examples such as the Christmas story;

-
-
People believe it and respond positively by being “nice” people, yet don’t live out its
message of community, selflessness and sacrifice.
Individuals now engage with religion based on individual needs, rather than as part of a
community, interested in religious “products” and “techniques” rather than the deeper
meaning and truth of Christianity.
Examples of lack of community, are showed as a Christmas “with all the trimmings”, which
focuses more on material goods than the relationships of the person with the others
involved and present at the table during this time.
The root of both consumerism and religion are both cultivating, promoting and sustaining desire;
Christian desire is about emptiness which finds sustenance in God and others
Consumer desire is about the self, about reimagining and reinventing who one is, in an insatiable
longing for more, where the seeking is more important than the having.
Without this connection to meaning, people can no longer relate intimately with God due to a
loss of understanding, as well as not being able to develop quality human relationships, and can
no longer find the meaning, purpose and direction of their lives. This all means that they cannot
experience true freedom on a personal and societal level, meaning consumerism endangers this
Catholic perspective of personal freedom.
Paragraph 3
- Consumerism competes with and subverts the Christian desire, it threatens the desire for
justice, hope and the coming of the Kingdom of God, as well as try and convince us that little
commitment, sacrifice or effort actually goes into doing something.
- The Church needs to respond to this issue and Miller in his article outlines ways in which it can
and who is capable of it;
-
-
The lay can break class barriers, and adopt and apply doctrines and symbols to real life
to give meaning, eg. By working towards civil rights.
Religious leaders, role is to bring Christian tradition to the masses, whilst Miller also
suggests that this should also include developing creative responses to consumerism
through their experience.
He claims this is due to Christianity no longer being about the institution, but about
responding to a call, about moving and pushing the limits according to the contexts.
Due to this, Miller claims that Christians can respond in the following ways:



Leaders to emphasise the importance of the Traditions of faith (to counter weak
commitment & engagement by the masses). This involves highlighting the significant
historical background of the Traditions, and the ways they have survived and adapted.
(Consumerism is all about the here & now)
Miller suggests that the Church should be opened up as the average person has unique
experiences and beliefs to contribute, yet are slow to contribute this. Through leaders
encouraging participation and embracing the unique agency of individuals, they can offer
new insight into old Traditions, and therefore carry the robust Tradition forwards. In order
for this to happen THE NATURE OF THE Church may have to be transformed as people
require space in order to act & respond.
This space currently is given to the priest or minister, with them dominating the space.
Space and freedom give people the opportunity to express themselves, which create a
dialogue between the leaders and the lay. This could be strengthened by new
communication between the leaders and the masses, allowing more input from the lay to
allow more dialogue between leaders and lay.
however mass media communication cannot be used due to the consumeristic nature of
mass media being able to erode the Traditional foundations of the Church if this occurs.
Conclusion
Freedom is endangered by consumerism
however Miller says there is a way for the Church to combat this
CONTEMPORARY TRENDS & FREEDOM
Freedom In General






To be free is to express your opinion and beliefs towards a subject within society,
without fear of being judged or persecuted on account of your personal ideals
Is integral to all human beings, in both historical and contemporary contexts
Catholic perspective
Is the capacity to do what is right, which is susceptible to external and internal pressures
Secular Perspectives
Includes consumerist, Determinist or Libertarian viewpoints
The Church expresses the importance of freedom through it’s teachings;
“Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that,
and so perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. By free will one shapes his
own life”(CCC 1731)
Freedom from either perspective equates to happiness!
Catholic Perspective (Overview)


Freedom is when people are able to relate intimately with God, develop quality human
relationships and discover the meaning, purpose and direction of their lives. This gives them
the strength to overcome internal and external pressures impacting on their freedom:
Eg, through the sacraments, which help them to become spiritually free, through receiving
the Grace of God.
This increases their capacity to do good, as highlighted by Gaudium Et Spes; “Only in
freedom can man direct himself towards goodness”(Ch17)
Secular Perspective (Mainly Consumerist Overview)


Based on wealth and material goods, where wealth equates to freedom, which ignores the
moral and spiritual aspects of freedom which are so heavily emphasised in the Catholic
understanding.
Works on the understanding that to be free is to be able to do whatever you wish, through
access to resources and power, dominant ideology in the consumerist world
Secular perspectives (In More Detail)
Consumerist




Occupy a large portion of contemporary secular attitudes towards freedom in society, where
more wealth and material possessions equate to more freedom and hence more happiness
The hunt for more and more material goods however overlooks the process of being drawn
into the consumption cycle of constant spending, trying to briefly satisfy long terms needs.
This is viewed as an act of being free, as the individual is doing what they please due to
having enough money to do so.
This view is accentuated by the by tethering of lifestyles and emotions to material goods, so
that it appears to the consumer that happiness is for sale, as well as freedom, provided they
have the money.
Determinist


Believe that people are never free, and their choices aren’t their own, but the influence of
everything else in their life. This perspective means that a human person doesn’t have
responsibility for their own actions as it is believed that they didn’t make the choice.
This differs from the Catholic perspective, which believes they have a choice, provided they
are not in danger or extraordinary circumstances.
Libertarianism


People are always free, no matter what happens to them and how much control they had
over the situation, as they always have a choice.
This can create issues as they are always held accountable for all things that happen to
them.
Political Freedom due to Wars

Political freedom due to wars as true freedom, which differs from the Catholic
understanding, where freedom is the capacity to do good, through good means.
Catholic Perspective (In More Detail)







Comes from the teachings of Christ and those of the Church which have been adapted from
Scripture of Biblical Freedom
Political freedom is distinguished from internal freedom in Exodus 3, where Moses frees the
Israelites from Egypt; “And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the
way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring
my people the Israelites, out of Egypt”
Jesus’ teachings, such as in Matthew 5 on oaths and promises teaches that humans should
avoid deceit and be honest at all times, because those who carry the burden of deceit are
never believed and are not spiritually free;
“Do not break your oath, but fulfil to the Lord the vows you have made”
These teachings from Scripture are echoed by the contemporary Church through the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, which helps to teach and provide its followers with a path
to true freedom; “As long as freedom is not bound definitively to the greatest goodness
which is Go, people have the capacity to do good or evil, to fail in sin or perform greatness”
(CCC 1732)
This teaches of how humans have a choice of what they decide, contesting secular attitudes
such as determinism.
The understanding that freedom is the capacity is to do what is right is reinforced by CCC
1733; “The more that one does that is good, the freer one becomes”
Reinforces notion that freedom is vulnerable to both internal and external pressures,
contesting popular secular understanding that freedom arises from material possessions and
“doing what you like”.
Secularism
Definition: Secularism is the principle of separation of government institutions, and the persons
mandated to represent the State, from religious institutions and religious dignitaries. In one sense,
secularism may assert the right to be free from religious rule and teachings, and the right to freedom
from governmental imposition of religion upon the people within a state that is neutral on matters
of belief. In another sense, it refers to the view that human activities and decisions, especially
political ones, should be unbiased by religious influence.
EUCHARIST AS A FORM OF FREEDOM






The Eucharist is a sacrament, a daily/weekly gift of Grace which Catholics wish to receive.
It gives spiritual nourishment to the congregation, filling them with the presence of Christ
and every grace and blessing from God.
It becomes the Body Of Christ via Transubstantiation
Supports people in their move to freedom by giving them the Grace of God.
This Grace then gives them the strength to overcome the internal and external pressures in
their life which endanger their freedom.
As freedom in a Catholic context is a capacity to do what is right/just which is vulnerable to
internal and external pressures, Eucharist consequently allows it’s recipients to overcome
these pressures and hence strive towards true freedom.
THE BEATITUDES




Have been historically connected to the sanctity of Christians;
“God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and
despised of the world….to reduce to nothing those who are something” (St Paul)
“The beatitudes depict the countenance of Christ and portray his charity”(CCC 1717)
He was countercultural in his time, blessing those who were at the bottom of society, the
Beatitudes clashed with many people’s lifestyles and values.
Blessed are the:
Poor in spirit
Those who show mercy
Sorrowing
Single-Hearted
Lowly
Peacemakers
Those who hunger and thirst for holiness
Persecuted for holiness’sake
THE SANCTITY OF LIFE


Great controversy arises in contemporary society over issues regarding the sanctity of life,
which involves debate over what is and what isn’t unjust termination of life. Such topics for
this issue include abortion and Euthanasia.
Euthanasia is defined as providing a gentle and easy death to someone suffering from a
painful, terminal disease who has little quality of life.
Euthanasia Includes Assisted Suicide, Voluntary and Involuntary Euthanasia.
Why people think it should be Illegal:
- Doubt as to what the person really wants
- Questions if the disease is terminal, the patient may go into remission
- The role of doctors is to save lives, not end them
- Who has the right to decide if euthanasia should take place?
Why people believe it should be legal:
- It is claimed that doctors and relatives should have the right to give such patients a painless
death, if their quality of life is very low
- Life support machines should be switched off and used on those who have a higher chance
of recovery (mostly to save money)
- People believe it is a basic human right to have control over ending your life
Christian attitude







“The use of painkillers to alleiviate suffering of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their
days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed either as an end
or means, but only forseen as inevitable” (CCC 2279)
Catholics believe that assisted suicide, voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia
are ALL WRONG
However they accept that modern medicine has introduced new issues:
- Switching off life-support machines is not euthanasia if braindeath has been established by
medical experts, nor is it wrong to give dying people painkillers.
Catholics believe in the Sanctity Of Life, that life is created by God and it is only up to God to
determine who lives and who dies
Consequently, any form of Euthanasia is murder (10 COMMANDMENTS)
It is up to medical experts to establish when death (eg, brain death) has occurred.
“If we live, we live to the Lord; If we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we
belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8)
Evangelium Vitae- Pope John Paul II – The “Culture of Death”







Euthanasia is one of the more alarming symptoms of the “culture of death”- particularly in
prosperous societies where a culture of death is evident in excessive preoccupation with
efficiency- according to which a significantly impaired life no longer has any value
Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally
unacceptable killing of a human person- This doctrine is based upon the written word of God
outlined in both the old and new testament
Evangelium Vitae debated Euthanasia and Abortion
“Life is sacred and inviable, it belongs to the Lord” (Genesis 1 & 2)
“No circumstance, no purpose, no law whatsoever can ever make licit an act which is
intrinsically illicit, since it is contrary to the law of God” (E.V Ch63)
Evangelium Vitae presents the value of human life to the public sphere, and truth about the
sanctity of life- this truth is found in Christ’s teachings.
Evangelium Vitae claimed that the new scientific practices in modern culture are
desensitizing attitudes towards the termination of life in secular society. It also claims that
the legislation of acts such as Euthanasia and Abortion causes a normalisation of death,
which reduces how much humanity values and appreciates life.
The Church’s response:


The Gospel of Life is at the core of the Church, it’s teachings are present in many of the
Church’s rituals and processes, such as the Sacraments.
Life was given as a gift from God, and through sending his only son, life became dignified
and worthy of salvation. As a result, life becomes sacred and inviable. Thus, Euthansia
and abortion are completely unacceptable.
Evangelium Vitae asked/promoted society:

Promotion of natural birth, classes on parenthood & childraising provided by the community
Asked Medically That:




Those who are terminally ill have the right to enjoy humane assistance & receive adequate
response to their needs.
Hospitals should no longer be institutions for the sick and dying, but places where suffering
and death are acknowledged specifically in the Christian meaning.
Health care professionals are often tempted to become manipulators of life, or even agents
of death; instead they are called to be guardians and servants of life.
For Charity to be realistic and effective, the Gospel Of Life must be implemented in social
activities and the political field, and the value of human life must be promoted in society.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE EUCHARIST OVER TIME- Six Stages Of Development



From Passover to the Eucharist:
- Celebrated in an “upper room”, usually reserved for Rabinnic Scripture Discussions
- Jesus opened the meal with a Psalm that praised God for his mighty deeds of salvation in
the Exodus
- He then took the, gave thanks for it and broke tradition saying; “Take and eat. This is my
body which will be given up for you.” It would be given up on the cross
- he then took the cup of wine and instead of making the usual toast he again broke tradition
and said; “Take and drink….this is my blood…It will be shed for you and for many for the
forgiveness of sins”
- As they ate and drank they experienced their unity in Christ
- “Do this in memory of me” gives the disciples and their successors the power to celebrate
the Eucharist
- In this event Jesus gave us the Sacraments of the Eucharist and the Ordained Priesthood.
From Meal To Worship:
- Apostles developed the Eucharist celebration into it’s modern day structure.
- They first named it the “breaking of the bread” but soon they saw the need to separate the
rite from a meal, due to abuses at meals and because they wanted a more prayerful setting
in which this act of worship could take place.
- It was moved to Sunday to remember Christ’s resurrection and a Liturgy of the Word was
introduced.
- By 150, the basic structure of mass was apparently in place
The Growing Body of Christ:
- Constantine becomes Christian in 313, persecutions consequently end suddenly
- Money was put into building many places of worship due to a mass conversion
- Amount of Eucharistic celebrations taking place greatly increases
- The growing size called for an authoritative figure to take charge, hence Church Fathers
and Bishops became more prominent.

The Eucharist becomes Distant For Most:
- Declines in active participation in the mass, yearly communion is consequently mandated
and Transubstantiation theory is introduced.
- Screens were erected, hiding the choir and the altar from the view of the congregation
- The liturgy was conducted away from the assembly, out of view
- The mass remained in Latin, leading to alienation and a lack of connection
Reformation and Tridentine Mass:
- Council of Trent in 1545 was opened, to deal with the reformation
- Council fathers called for a renewal of the Liturgy, then….
- Pope Pius V in 1570 creates a Standard book for the Western Church Mass
- Masses however were still said in Latin and in almost complete silence
Vatican II: Sacrosanctum Councillium and Lumen Gentium
- Changes were made in order to combat these issues which the Church faced through these
two foundational constitutions.
- Priest was to face the congregation and the Mass was now said in vernacular language
- People were to now shake hands at the greeting of peace
- The congregation was now to actively participate in the mass, to sing and to pray at various
times
- People were to receive the Holy Communion and Wine without the prescence of an altar
rail separating them
- People could now become extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, as well as bring up the
gifts as part of the offertory.