Offertory Antiphons

by Gary D. Penkala
Recent Vatican documents have served as reminders for liturgical musicians to look back at
rubrics (particularly the GIRM 2002) to see just what we shouldbe 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 processionalmoments 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 theNAB 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 nonofficial translations appear in italics.
The sources for the Offertory antiphons are:
Graduale Romanum, abbreviated GR
Graduale Simplex, abbreviated GS
The Graduale Simplex also includes several verses of a psalm that can be sung, with the
antiphon being used before/after as usual. The verses are separated below with a slash (/).
Example:
On the First Sunday of Advent, the proper Offertory antiphon
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]
can be sung, perhaps using a familiar psalm tone. Then can be chanted these verses of Psalm 25:
1. To you I lift up my soul, O Lord, my God... [vs 1b]

2.
3.
4.
5.

Remember that your compassion, O Lord... [vs 6]

All the paths of the Lord... [vs 10]
Preserve my lofe, and rescue me... [vs 20]
Redeem Israel, O God... [vs 22]

In many instances, the Graduale Simplex does not have a specific Mass for a Sunday (see
Advent 2) because for the seasons outside Lent, the Graduale Simplex arranges "composite
Masses." You may choose from among these a Mass to use on any Sunday in that season. Thus,
there are several celebrations below which list an Offertory antiphon from the Graduale
Romanum but do not have a corresponding antiphon from the Graduale Simplex. On those
Sundays, any of the seasonal psalms suggested in the Graduale Simplex could be used together
with the proper antiphon from the Graduale Romanum, if desired.
Note: All the psalm numbering is that found in the New American Bible, not the older
numbering found in the Graduale.

Proper Offertory Antiphons

Advent 1
GR: Psalm 25:1-3
GS: Psalm 25:3a [Missa I per Adventus]
verses - Psalm 25:1b / 6 / 10 / 20 / 22
Advent 2
GR: Psalm 85:7-8
Advent 3
GR: Psalm 85:2-3a
Advent 4
GR: Luke 1:28,42
GS: Luke 1:28,42 [Missa II per Adventus]
verses - Psalm 25:1-2 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 14
Christmas: Vigil
GR: Psalm 24:7
Christmas: Midnight
GR: Psalm 96:11a,13a
GS: Psalm 96:11a,13a
verses - Psalm 96:1 / 2 / 3 / 8b-9a / 13b
Christmas: Dawn
GR: Psalm 93:1c-2a
Christmas: Day
GR: Psalm 89:12,15a

Holy Family
GR: Psalm 31:15-16a
GS: Luke 2:33
verses - Psalm 40:1 / 7b-8a / 8b-9a / 9b / 17
Mother, Mother of God [January 1]
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
Epiphany
GR: Psalm 72:10-11
GS: Psalm 72:10
verses - Psalm 72:7 / 8 / 9 / 15 / 16
Baptism of the Lord
GR: Psalm 118:26,27a
GS: Isaiah 49:6b
verses - Psalm 47:2 / 7 / 8 / 9

Ash Wednesday
GR: Psalm 30:2-3
GS: Psalm 30:11b
verses - Psalm 30:2 / 3 / 10b / 11
Lent 1
GR: Psalm 91:4
GS: Matthew 6:3
verses - Psalm 51:3a / 3b / 4 / 5
Lent 2
GR: Psalm 119:47-48
GS: Mark 9:5
verses - Psalm 133:1 / 2a / 2b / 3b
Lent 3
GR: Psalm 19:9,11b,12
GS: Isaiah 58:7
verses - Psalm 51:3a / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14
Lent 4
GR: Psalm 135:3,6a
GS: Psalm 92:1a

verses - Psalm 92:3 / 5 / 6 / 13

Lent 5
GR: Psalm 119:7a,10a,17,25b
GS: Psalm 43:1a
verses - Psalm 22:2 / 3 / 21 / 22
Palm Sunday
GR: Psalm 69:21-22
GS: Psalm 43:1a
verses - Psalm 22:2 / 3 / 21 / 22
Holy Thursday: Chrism
GR: Hymn: O Redemptor
GS: Hymn: O Redemptor
Holy Thursday: Lord's Supper
GR: Hymn: Ubi caritas
GS: Hymn: Ubi caritas
Easter: Vigil
GR: Psalm 118:16-17
GS: Psalm 118:16
verses - Psalm 118:21 / 22 / 23 / 27b
Easter: Sunday
GR: Psalm 76:9b-10a
GS: Psalm 76:9b-10a
verses - Psalm 76:2 / 3 / 4 / 5-6a
Easter 2
GR: Matthew 28:2b,5a,6a
Easter 3
GR: Psalm 146:1b-2
Easter 4
GR: Psalm 63:2a,5b
GS: Psalm 63:2a,3b [Missa I per T.P.]
verses - Psalm 63:2b / 2c-3 / 4 / 5
Easter 5
GR: Psalm 66:1b,2a,16
GS: Psalm 47:2b [Missa II per T.P.]
verses - Psalm 47:3 / 4 / 5 / 7
Easter 6
GR: Psalm 66:8,9,20
Ascension
GR: Psalm 47:6 -or- Acts 1:11

GS: Psalm 47:6

verses - Psalm 47:2 / 3 / 7 / 9
Easter 7
GR: Psalm 47:6 -or- Acts 1:11
Pentecost: Vigil
GR: Psalm 104:30-31a
Pentecost: Sunday
GR: Psalm 68:29-30
GS: Psalm 68:29-30a
verses - Psalm 68:2 / 22 / 25 / 36
Trinity [Sunday after Pentecost]
GR: Tobit 12:6
GS: Daniel 3:56
verses - Daniel 3:57 / 58-59 / 84-85 / 86-87 / Dox
Corpus Christi [Sunday after Trinity]
GR: Psalm 78:23-25a -or- Exodus 24:4-5
GS: Psalm 78:25
verses - Psalm 84:2-3a / 3b / 4b / 5